Law enforcement was compartmentalized for very sound reasons which are based upon protections guaranteed in our constitution. Mr. Kelly's pep talk illustrates the dangers inherent in concentrating power rather than investing in systems that unsure that we are safe from abuse of authority.
22
This is why Homeland Security shouldn't have been created in the first place.
A large bureaucracy without a clear and meaningful job to do is always in danger of being misused.
A large bureaucracy without a clear and meaningful job to do is always in danger of being misused.
32
I wish Kelly were equally concerned about the attack on our nation by the Zika virus, which can silently damage the human nervous system at any stage of life, Other destructive viruses are likely to pop up & expand their territory as our climate changes. The course of human history has been shaped as much by disease as by invasions.
20
I do commend Secretary Kelly's for his reference to the work done by the Department's employees. However, haven't the Republicans been telling the country for years that federal employees, which includes Homeland Security employees, are overpaid drones from whom the voters do not get a full day's work for a full day's pay? With the constant denigration of federal employees by the Republican Party for many years why would Secretary Kelly expect appreciation from the country's citizens for the very valuable work performed by men and women of Homeland Security?
25
What is NYT's position on Immigration policy? Does the Editorial Board believe we should have open borders and legalize every illegal immigrant in the country?
From the AP piece (link embedded in editorial):
"More than 21,000 immigrants in the U.S. illegally have been arrested since President Donald Trump took office in January, compared to about 16,000 people during the same time last year. About a quarter of those arrests were immigrants who had no criminal history, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
While the number of deportations has actually decreased slightly since Trump took office, the crackdown has left immigrant communities and advocates worried that just about any immigrant in the country illegally could be swept up. "
Sorry, if 75% of those arrested have criminal records, I won't be feeling too bad about deportations. And yes, something needs to be done about securing the borders.
From the AP piece (link embedded in editorial):
"More than 21,000 immigrants in the U.S. illegally have been arrested since President Donald Trump took office in January, compared to about 16,000 people during the same time last year. About a quarter of those arrests were immigrants who had no criminal history, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
While the number of deportations has actually decreased slightly since Trump took office, the crackdown has left immigrant communities and advocates worried that just about any immigrant in the country illegally could be swept up. "
Sorry, if 75% of those arrested have criminal records, I won't be feeling too bad about deportations. And yes, something needs to be done about securing the borders.
13
Secretary Kelly will do well to retire from his civilian post and reenlist with the Marines. Personalities like his are most valuable at the front line of combat but will cause more harm than good in a civilian position.
30
Never before have I been so afraid of my own government. When I first scanned - "These men and women are without conscience, and they operate without rules." - I thought surely this was the author talking about employees of Homeland Security, NSA, etc. It's one thing to use a scintilla of intelligence in trying to keep us safe, but there is less than a scintilla of intelligence behind detaining Mohammad Ali's son, twice, because of his name or in checking the papers of everyone entering a subway stop in Harlem as if this were WWII Germany. My wife was born in the DR. She became a US citizen over 20 years ago. But we are afraid to travel to see her relatives for fear that she will be harassed trying to get back into the country, either that her passport will not be believed as authentic or that she will be detained or otherwise harassed due to her appearance; she is often misidentified as someone from the Middle East. Given the extraordinarily low IQs at work on our behalf, as demonstrated by the bullying of people on account of their names, and their cut-loose approach to dealing with the public thanks to Trump's go-and-get-'em rhetoric, it would be quite unsurprising if my wife were harassed, threatened, and detained simply on account of her appearance.
22
"We are under attack from terrorism both within and outside of our borders. These men and women are without conscience, and they operate without rules. They despise the United States, because we are a nation of rights, of laws and of freedoms."
So says John Kelly as quoted by the New York Times.
Let us suppose for a moment that this is true. (There are many other factors including, as others have pointed out decades of US actions in the middle East)
I fail to see how curtailing those rights, encouraging a system where government intelligence agencies operate above the law, and eroding those freedoms represents anything other than the terrorists winning.
So says John Kelly as quoted by the New York Times.
Let us suppose for a moment that this is true. (There are many other factors including, as others have pointed out decades of US actions in the middle East)
I fail to see how curtailing those rights, encouraging a system where government intelligence agencies operate above the law, and eroding those freedoms represents anything other than the terrorists winning.
27
Welcome back into office GW Bush!
The GOP has given up reality and since the days of GW Bush, live in a fantasy land void of science, facts and rational discourse. The GOP vision of America is a police state which serves its corporate masters and white citizens when convenient.
The GOP has given up reality and since the days of GW Bush, live in a fantasy land void of science, facts and rational discourse. The GOP vision of America is a police state which serves its corporate masters and white citizens when convenient.
23
April 21, 2017
A balance for informed and concern in the era of world terrorism that offers responses that are rational and proportional to the threats. The homeland origins that produces the thugs warriors to live for martyrdom and then die in wherever cities – have roots that are ever being surveyed for the best options to take to systemic organizational providers to whatever degree of deadly reach. After years and years of reckless chaos from the shores of Libya to the northern Afg / Pak Northwester mountainous caves to the Fertile Crescent of tribal warring from Persians, Iraq, Kurds, to many parts of Africa – and the add the migrations with the devil be told who’s in disguise approaching – if you world believe a irrational crusading to Western nations – and with responses by Brexit to Le Penn and Wall in the American territory – land and sea. What and where is beyond fear mongering is a much a quantum matrix of calculus and indeterminable political cause toward rational complete protective measures to offer conform – we live with the rot and it’s not going to be departing in the decades going………backwards for civility human dignity all in the name of the greatest fear beyond centuries of several thousands eons….
Jja Manhattan, N.Y.
A balance for informed and concern in the era of world terrorism that offers responses that are rational and proportional to the threats. The homeland origins that produces the thugs warriors to live for martyrdom and then die in wherever cities – have roots that are ever being surveyed for the best options to take to systemic organizational providers to whatever degree of deadly reach. After years and years of reckless chaos from the shores of Libya to the northern Afg / Pak Northwester mountainous caves to the Fertile Crescent of tribal warring from Persians, Iraq, Kurds, to many parts of Africa – and the add the migrations with the devil be told who’s in disguise approaching – if you world believe a irrational crusading to Western nations – and with responses by Brexit to Le Penn and Wall in the American territory – land and sea. What and where is beyond fear mongering is a much a quantum matrix of calculus and indeterminable political cause toward rational complete protective measures to offer conform – we live with the rot and it’s not going to be departing in the decades going………backwards for civility human dignity all in the name of the greatest fear beyond centuries of several thousands eons….
Jja Manhattan, N.Y.
3
the real fear mongering comes from tabloid cable news, as they breathlessly cover and endlessly rehash everything going on
6
"These men and women are without conscience, and they operate without rules."
Nice description of the President and his family.
Nice description of the President and his family.
51
Since 9/11, our Presidents and the leaders of Homeland Security have borne the ultimate burden of keeping the nation safe. And it is not surprising that they have all gone too far. Failure in this mission potentially undermines the legitimacy of the administration. As for illegal immigration, that is an entirely separate matter. The real question is whether Trump and Kelly's anti-terrorism efforts have been worse than Bush's terrorism and Obama's Guantanamo and information collection. Perhaps. But it you can't even define the issue, you have precious little chance of resolving it.
5
Fear is a wonderful tool for a government to use on it's people. How can a government, like ours, indiscriminately use our military might against enemies, real or imagined, all over the globe and expect to be immune from attack or retaliation. As long as we act as a warring nation we have to accept that we can sometimes be victim to such violence. Personally I am more afraid of people like Kelly and the right wing military and corporate goons that are running and ruining our homeland than I am of ISIS
22
The ISIS radicals swear that they will sneak people into the United States to create mass murder, and the NY Times knows better. It's as if the reporters are instructed to say, ''If they aren't carrying an AK-47 when they get off the plane, they aren't going to hurt anyone.''
The San Bernardino shooting spree was only allowed to happen because an angry ideologue at the top of the gov't insisted that we never look too hard at the people coming into our country.
Had overseas Facebook and other social media posts been part of the screening, Barack would have had one less notch on his retribution belt.
The San Bernardino shooting spree was only allowed to happen because an angry ideologue at the top of the gov't insisted that we never look too hard at the people coming into our country.
Had overseas Facebook and other social media posts been part of the screening, Barack would have had one less notch on his retribution belt.
5
The NYT's nomination of Mr. Kelly as an hysteric seems less than plausible. In the current world (think Champs d'Elysee), risk is a reality. Are we also to believe that the streets of New York are "safe"? Some are, some aren't. An enterprising terrorist apparently hoped to explode a bomb on them not too long ago, if I remember the NYT coverage.
Given the degree of unrest in the world, and the nature of it, a prudent nation would exercise caution. Mr. Kelly is in charge of keeping us safe domestically. He is both energetic and diligent. Why throw words at him like rotten fruit?
I guess this is where I say I do not support Trump and voted neither for him nor for for HRC. Some issues-- like national safety-- should elevate above politics.
Given the degree of unrest in the world, and the nature of it, a prudent nation would exercise caution. Mr. Kelly is in charge of keeping us safe domestically. He is both energetic and diligent. Why throw words at him like rotten fruit?
I guess this is where I say I do not support Trump and voted neither for him nor for for HRC. Some issues-- like national safety-- should elevate above politics.
8
A perfect setup for persecuting political enemies.
8
Cruel and harsh treatment backfires. It stirs up fear and hatred which can last for generations. It usually only "works" in the short term anyway. Fear mongering and threats also eventually backfire. They bring out the worst in people and reflect very badly on the government. History does not look kindly on repressive governments. Our country's reputation is already being compromised by some of the actions under the new administration. Have we learned nothing from the past?
9
"They despise the United States, because we are a nation of rights, of laws and of freedoms," he says. So, by ignoring or even abolishing those rights and those laws and those freedoms, we are better off? Well, that makes perfect Orwellian sense...
19
I'm more concerned with my government's lack of transparency and possible collusion with a foreign government tampering in our election processes.
15
A huge issue is the total lack of any ability of so many Americans to assess risk by doing basic math. My individual risk of being a victim of Radical Islamist terrorism pales in the comparison to dying in a car accident, or being struck by lightning as I work in my western garden.
If you want to tackle terrorism, try the homegrown type, get guns under control and teach stronger math and critical thinking classes.
Really, GOP, get a grip and stop the nonsense.
If you want to tackle terrorism, try the homegrown type, get guns under control and teach stronger math and critical thinking classes.
Really, GOP, get a grip and stop the nonsense.
21
Obviously Trump is using a page from the Bush playbook and his phony use of fear tactics to scare Americans. No one called him on it then. So let's get it right this time and that means more than running a thoughtful well written editorial or two and getting a tough hard nosed story on the "front page" that calls this out for the fake issue it is. As other astute readers have posted here the real terrorism is internal due to easy access to and an overabundance of guns in America. Safe journalism just seems so wimpy now. Get tough please.
7
Kelly has been an enormous disappointment. He was supposed to be one of the cooler heads in the Trump administration, but instantly turned on a dime with the Muslim ban and the mass deportation of immigrants who have not committed crimes. The Muslims rejected were not terrorists but were vulnerable and traumatized refugees - primarily women and children - as well as students, business people, doctors, teachers and others, who held legally obtained visas and had already been vetted. The immigrants he is deporting are for the most part not the "bad hombres" of racist imaginations but are peaceful mothers, fathers, young people, and others, many of whom have lived peacefully in this country for many years but were caught up in a dragnet of newly empowered ICE officers who treat everyone as though they were the worst drug dealers.
This is an abuse of power. Kelly's deliberations about separating infants and children from their parents were deliberate cruelty, intended to torture the parents and harm the children. Trump has spent months now attacking the intelligence agencies, who really are the first line of defense against terrorism. Trump and Kelly demonized Muslims, although the American Muslim community are invaluable allies in the war against terror, and many Muslims (and immigrants) serve in the Armed Forces.
Fear mongering, hate mongering, and war mongering are the legacy of Trump, all the while he and his cronies and his family are scooping up the profits.
This is an abuse of power. Kelly's deliberations about separating infants and children from their parents were deliberate cruelty, intended to torture the parents and harm the children. Trump has spent months now attacking the intelligence agencies, who really are the first line of defense against terrorism. Trump and Kelly demonized Muslims, although the American Muslim community are invaluable allies in the war against terror, and many Muslims (and immigrants) serve in the Armed Forces.
Fear mongering, hate mongering, and war mongering are the legacy of Trump, all the while he and his cronies and his family are scooping up the profits.
15
Given the quality of the generals Trump has placed in his administration, can we agree our military is not all it is cracked up to be?
8
You must keep the gravy train going, the educated lot of your people will simply dismiss the 24/7 fear mongering, unless they are confronted directly....
Everything that has happened since 9/11, even that is suspect....
Way too much money involved for this to be a one time thing, thousands are invested in keeping this going as long as possible...greed overcomes all logic....then everyone is a victim, of their own fear...
Nothing said at GWU helps anyone but those invested in keeping the gravy train going
Everything that has happened since 9/11, even that is suspect....
Way too much money involved for this to be a one time thing, thousands are invested in keeping this going as long as possible...greed overcomes all logic....then everyone is a victim, of their own fear...
Nothing said at GWU helps anyone but those invested in keeping the gravy train going
2
These dire prognostications, like so many others, can be condensed to the phrase:
Repent Sinners! The end is nigh!
More proof that this country was built on christian principles.
Repent Sinners! The end is nigh!
More proof that this country was built on christian principles.
2
The Trump administration is ISIS-America preparing the deaths of millions through denial of medical care, the sacrifice of poor children to plutocrat greed.
The administration is a gaggle of obscenities whose sadistic rule will end with multiple thermonuclear flashes over America's great cities. Trump's historic accomplishment will be nuclear winter and a world population of two billion.
The administration is a gaggle of obscenities whose sadistic rule will end with multiple thermonuclear flashes over America's great cities. Trump's historic accomplishment will be nuclear winter and a world population of two billion.
3
With all due respect, Mr. Kelly, we are very much afraid: of you.
7
Your military-industrial complex at work.
2
"they will be living in a paranoid societY" ????
YEAH! fly United and find out!
YEAH! fly United and find out!
1
The U.S. not under attack by non-state actors anymore that it has been since the Civil War. The non-state actors in this country have been small minorities of people who believe that the larger society is trying to repress them, like the opponents to equal rights like the KKK or the ultra right militias and all criminal organizations and criminal sociopathic individuals. The communities from who terrorists have come have mostly reported them to authorities because they trust in this country more than they resent the bigots in it. Kelly needs to find a friend to help him find that state of mind where he can do his job without having to vent his worst fears publically.
No Mr. Kelly - they hate us because we come into their countries unprovoked to "shock and awe" them into submission and take their resources. We've been shocking and awing them now for fifteen yrs., reducing their countries to rubble, destroying their homes, killing hundreds of thousands of innocents. ISIS exists because of us. Our arrogance has also cost the lives of so many of our military and run up a tab of over a trillion dollars. This administration and folks like Kelly both enrage and shame me. They are the threat to our freedoms. Not Mexicans and Muslim Americans.
And by the way, I don't recall us having used the term "the homeland" until our little shock and awe adventure. It gave me the creeps then. It gives me the creeps now. We know where it originated. If past is prologue, it would seem our rights are under threat not from immigrants, but from those who would "rule" us.
And by the way, I don't recall us having used the term "the homeland" until our little shock and awe adventure. It gave me the creeps then. It gives me the creeps now. We know where it originated. If past is prologue, it would seem our rights are under threat not from immigrants, but from those who would "rule" us.
12
Gee, and we thought Kelly would be one of the grownups in the Trump Administration.
5
Please leave, Gen. Kelly. You have had an illustrious military career. Evidently, you do not understand your function in a civil government. If you go now, you will be fondly remembered. If you persist, you have stayed long enough for any good you have been doing.
1
What do you expect from the militaristic and simplistic mindset of a career officer suddenly turned high-placed bureaucrat? And the horrible truth is that Mr. Trump is relying on many others like him; a vivid reminder that autocrats have a dangerous tendency to surround themselves with people who are a direct reflection of their own selves!
6
And what about domestic violence or violence against women? Maybe I should be very very scared of my partner.
1
It seems that Mr. Kelly's claims that we are a nation under attack would be relatively easy to check. Is the NYT working on that? How about a follow up article on his claims rather than just bloviating about their tone? Is he right? If so what is the proper response? Is he wrong? Again, what is the proper response? Facts first, please.
3
If only we had extreme vetting when Kelly's ancestors came to America. During the 19th century the Irish Catholics killed Englishmen in Ireland and in the last part of the 20th century the IRA was the leading terrorist organization in the world. One member of my family was murdered by the IRA and another maimed, and still every year these people target the Order of the Orange parade in Portadown. There is no scientifically valid proof terrorism is in the genes of Irish Catholics but those of us from Ulster remember Irish Catholic members of the Boston FBI loading a boat destined for the IRA in Ireland with weapons and explosives, along with Public Enemy #1 Whitey Bulger leading the loading.
So if anybody has any integrity they will not in the least pay any attention to what this descendant of terrorists says.
So if anybody has any integrity they will not in the least pay any attention to what this descendant of terrorists says.
1
Mr. Kelly, who is going to keep us safe from the likes of you and your boss?
2
The NYT editorial board is nothing if not predictable.
John Kelly told you the truth, in essence, "we are under attack by Islamic fascism," and that "if you don't like the laws" he has to enforce, ask Congress to change them."
From those interactions, the "resistance" spun into action, churning out this editorial warning readers of the resultant "curtailment of American liberties" due to Kelly's "incendiary" language. (BTW, if speaking truth to the "resistance" is "incendiary," what is speaking calming bureaucratese to the NYT, "de-escalating"? Should all interviews with government officials sound as vacuous as an NFL post-game show?).
But wishing away the threats of today, such as North Korean's nukes, Iranian hegemony in the Middle East, and Islamic totalitarianism, or worse, dumbing down the message to suit the Fourth Estate's pc sensibilities, you increase the risk to us all.
And the NYT is still hunting for "Islamophobia" in every nook and cranny. Alas, the USA remains incredibly diverse, vibrant and tolerant. (We note that the NYT ceased its weekly "hate report" column, designed to implicate the "deplorables" with upticks in "hate" conduct since the election)
Indeed, the last part of Kelly's message was especially articulate and poignant, and you really should take heed.
John Kelly told you the truth, in essence, "we are under attack by Islamic fascism," and that "if you don't like the laws" he has to enforce, ask Congress to change them."
From those interactions, the "resistance" spun into action, churning out this editorial warning readers of the resultant "curtailment of American liberties" due to Kelly's "incendiary" language. (BTW, if speaking truth to the "resistance" is "incendiary," what is speaking calming bureaucratese to the NYT, "de-escalating"? Should all interviews with government officials sound as vacuous as an NFL post-game show?).
But wishing away the threats of today, such as North Korean's nukes, Iranian hegemony in the Middle East, and Islamic totalitarianism, or worse, dumbing down the message to suit the Fourth Estate's pc sensibilities, you increase the risk to us all.
And the NYT is still hunting for "Islamophobia" in every nook and cranny. Alas, the USA remains incredibly diverse, vibrant and tolerant. (We note that the NYT ceased its weekly "hate report" column, designed to implicate the "deplorables" with upticks in "hate" conduct since the election)
Indeed, the last part of Kelly's message was especially articulate and poignant, and you really should take heed.
6
I am staying away from your extreme right crazy nation, my respect for your great nation is gone, I am an American educated professional. Good luck to you for the next 4 maybe 8 years.
3
Americans are disliked by a lot of extremists and Trump's administration is giving them more reason to hate us. Unfortunately, the people who did not vote for Trump will also have pay the price for his bullying.
Tens of thousands of Americans die by gun fire every year. Talk to me about terror attacks when then number comes down.
Yeah, 12,000 murders each year and I am going to cower in my house over terrorist attacks.
5
Fear is the Republican's stock and trade. Keep the uninformed quaking in their homes, fearful of 'the others'.
5
will the color coded terror alerts return ?
they were ever so useful
for getting a laugh, anyway
5
"They despise the United States, because we are a nation of rights, of laws and of freedoms. They have a single mission, and that is our destruction.”
Most of our so called enemies despise us for our interference in how their countries exist! We invade Mexico and take away a large portion of their land and then we build a wall and call them illegals! We support Shahs and Dictators like Saddam and then we are upset with the countries that complain about it! We arm the enemy of our enemies and then can't understand how anyone can hate us unless it's about our rights, laws, and freedoms...oh my! Now we want to isolate ourselves into an imaginary "white" christian cocoon. Good luck with that!
Most of our so called enemies despise us for our interference in how their countries exist! We invade Mexico and take away a large portion of their land and then we build a wall and call them illegals! We support Shahs and Dictators like Saddam and then we are upset with the countries that complain about it! We arm the enemy of our enemies and then can't understand how anyone can hate us unless it's about our rights, laws, and freedoms...oh my! Now we want to isolate ourselves into an imaginary "white" christian cocoon. Good luck with that!
4
And where does Donald Trump and his ilk stand in terms of being a threat to the security of our homeland? Isn't a Russian takeover of our democracy the biggest threat of all? Why isn't DHS doing anything to stop that? Or is it because white people just aren't on the DHS radar? So the terrorists that were responsible for Oklahoma City are just patriots to them because their skin color is the same as Kelly's? If we do ever have another attack, it will be because of the shortsightedness and incompetence of Kelly and DHS for ignoring the obvious. What a discredit he is to all true Americans.
1
The attitude you express here, and that expressed by most of the posters here, is exactly the same that got us into 9/11.
Why don't you go all the way and hurl that final insult to civilized society that was born in the Obama era, not to say in Obama's brain: "Let's not be hysterical: a certain amount of terrorism must be accepted."
And you still wonder why you lost.
Why don't you go all the way and hurl that final insult to civilized society that was born in the Obama era, not to say in Obama's brain: "Let's not be hysterical: a certain amount of terrorism must be accepted."
And you still wonder why you lost.
4
I've said it before and I'll say it again: I'm more afraid of the Republicans than I am of ISIS.
I do pray there's nothing brusque in the liberal response. Or shrill, mean, condescending, snarky, sarcastic, or anything else that might offend the poor dears.
6
No we are not afraid,not even of the unspeakable fear monger who sent you out to scare us.mission failed.and tell the AG his racism is about to catch up with him too!
There is nothing to fear except fear itself.FDR
As for anyone in this admin....they aren't intelligent enough to hide their ties to Russia.Where is the special prosecutor??
There is nothing to fear except fear itself.FDR
As for anyone in this admin....they aren't intelligent enough to hide their ties to Russia.Where is the special prosecutor??
3
Everything geared to facilitate autocratic rule with a weak and divided congress. Now they are attacking our judicial system with a racist as attorney general demeaning the state of Hawaii which is much better than his state ever will be.
1
Another day of comments from the left.
Hyperbole, projection, hatred, baseless, even unexplicted premises, and ad hominems attack again are the order of the day, showing that the left has not yet understood why they are politically more irrelevant than they have been in decades.
Hyperbole, projection, hatred, baseless, even unexplicted premises, and ad hominems attack again are the order of the day, showing that the left has not yet understood why they are politically more irrelevant than they have been in decades.
Kelly and the rest of this Administration seem to believe that the only good people in the world and the only ones who deserve to be in America are white, Christian dominant men and white Christian subservient women.
2
Unfortunately the NY Times and many others continue to bury their heads in the sand and hope the reality of the present world situation with radical Muslim extremists will somehow go away: if we only understand them better, while the carnage continues here and abroad.
2
"We are in fact a nation under attack", says Kelly. Sure, go tell it to the Iraqis, Libyans and Syrians!
44
All natural-born U.S. citizens, none DACA, none Muslim:
Timothy McVeigh
Terry Nichols
Dylann Roof
Dylan Klebold
Eric Harris
Jared Lee Loughner
James Holmes
Robert Lewis Dear
Charles Manson
Timothy McVeigh
Terry Nichols
Dylann Roof
Dylan Klebold
Eric Harris
Jared Lee Loughner
James Holmes
Robert Lewis Dear
Charles Manson
9
We are being "governed" by the worst possible people. The GOP hates this country. A sad spectacle!
5
Fear makes a population compliant to Governments' wishes. The Nazis knew it and used it to their advantage. The Trump administration is working with the same playbook. One vilified the Jews, the other does the same with Muslims. Same method. I'm hoping for different results this time, but I'm not really encouraged by what's going on.
9
Obviously the Barbarians have moved into the White House and are now in charge. No decency, no civility, no empathy. Just kill and kill and kill. Be afraid be very afraid of the Donald and his hoodlum profiteers. By the time they are driven out this country will have very little to show but more prisoners, more hunger and more sickly citizens. Those who elected them may not know it yet but they have enabled the worst who will destroy their own lives. All in the name of fighting terrorist but the real threat to our country future are the thugs and profiteers who are desecrating our Government offices and the smirking Con in Chief occupying our White House.
8
Kelly is potentially as big a threat to our way of life as anyone in ISIS.
7
"...the dismal state of public discourse in American politics."
That would be the breaking of our immigration laws and the encouragement by liberal media such as the NYT to break said laws.
Shame on you.
That would be the breaking of our immigration laws and the encouragement by liberal media such as the NYT to break said laws.
Shame on you.
3
“Make no mistake, We are in fact a nation under attack."
That's a little bit like the barber telling you that you need a haircut.
That's a little bit like the barber telling you that you need a haircut.
Great employment opportunities exist for all the unemployed deplorables that voted for Trump, if Kelly gets his deportation force authorized. He of course will have to lower the standards so most of them could qualify, but their hatred and ignorance will be valuable assets for this force. The new Homeland Security Agency Storm Troopers division. The modern day American Gestapo.
7
We need more of the press to speak out like this as too often NYT comments are dismissed as coming from the "far left NYT "
3
News Flash: General Kelly and his bossman are the terrorists. As for TSA - well if you just paid people decently with job security, opportunity for enhancement, benefits and decent wages you may not attract such thugs. People hate entering the USA - yes it is hostile and incompetent. But this fear of the unknown arab or indian or foreigner is ridiculous. Fear the terrorists in DC and next door to you with their NRA stickers and arsenals and "stand your ground" ideas.
Maybe France should hire this guy... kind of useless in the USA... if he thinks the USA is "under attack" I wonder what he must think the stage France is in? All out war? I wonder when the muslims in the EU will in perhaps a decade rise up and start killing non-muslims en masse will the USA come to help its allies who actually will be in fact a nation under attack?
1
"Horse feathers II - Wrath of Trump." We certainly are a nation under attack but it's men like Kelly who are threatening us with baseless claims. The fear is the same kind that had us furious at Tom Ridge and his color coded threat board. Kelly has created a distraction for us to fixate on and I am not buying it. The Times should know better than to bite on it. We must not fear each other. More people die from the terror created by mayonnaise . . . yes, I mean that white stuff found in jars. Let's get real with each other. This administration has chosen to be the enemy not of terrorism, but an enemy to our most cherished tradition - life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Impeach!
3
If the Dept. of Homeland Security can find a way for Americans to not have to take off their shoes at the airport, then I would have trust in them to secure our homeland.
4
the trouble with mr. kelly's comments, and i suppose the administration in general, is that it fuels islamophobia like pouring gasoline on a fire. i'm thinking of the man that opened fire in that washington d.c. pizza joint looking for child molesters. when someone at the level of secretary kelly says we are at war, some will take up pitchforks. and because islamaphobia happens here, and terrorism for the most part happens elsewhere, this could represent a significant threat to our citizenry.
To all those in this chain who despair the loss of privacy and free speech, and the militiarization of our government under a strange man who's insulted our allies while cozying up with Erdogan and Putin... I want to say that we still can march and resist and elect local people who agree with us. Fascism has shown its face here. Don't look away from it in hopes it will disappear.
3
This message that the country is under attack is almost the same that the Venezuelan presidents have expressed constantly, that the country is at war, and has been utilized to cut down the civil rights of the population----I remember the Patriot Act
5
Trumpism is in effect.
And his snarling racist and militarist dogs have been loosed from their leashes:
- Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, along with the Attorney General Jeff Sessions, make no bones about using harsh tactics against any they deem an enemy.
- ICE agents have morphed into jackbooted thugs, sweeping up immigrants and creating fear and dread in entire communities as they cruelly tear apart families.
- A single general authorized the deployment of the "Mother of all Bombs" in Afghanistan.
- The United States is threatening war on the Korean peninsula, indirectly threatening the Chinese and the Russians, who have now mobilized troops, and imperilling millions of Koreans and Japanese and thousands of forward deployed US forces.
We are on the cusp of something monstrous.
And his snarling racist and militarist dogs have been loosed from their leashes:
- Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, along with the Attorney General Jeff Sessions, make no bones about using harsh tactics against any they deem an enemy.
- ICE agents have morphed into jackbooted thugs, sweeping up immigrants and creating fear and dread in entire communities as they cruelly tear apart families.
- A single general authorized the deployment of the "Mother of all Bombs" in Afghanistan.
- The United States is threatening war on the Korean peninsula, indirectly threatening the Chinese and the Russians, who have now mobilized troops, and imperilling millions of Koreans and Japanese and thousands of forward deployed US forces.
We are on the cusp of something monstrous.
61
Classic fascist babble.
Sad thing about thinking, feeling people is that they consistently underestimate the depths of depravity a person who buys into fascism will eagerly sink to--"unfathomably cruel" doesn't even scratch the surface of the tip of the iceberg that is Kelly's hatred, self-loathing, and psychopathic willingness to further his own agenda. And that is a common thread throughout the administration, as it is throughout the tribe that put this crowd in power, as it was throughout the German and Austrian people who overwhelmingly supported the Nazis, and throughout the Nazi administration.
I don't see any difference, and neither will history.
Sad thing about thinking, feeling people is that they consistently underestimate the depths of depravity a person who buys into fascism will eagerly sink to--"unfathomably cruel" doesn't even scratch the surface of the tip of the iceberg that is Kelly's hatred, self-loathing, and psychopathic willingness to further his own agenda. And that is a common thread throughout the administration, as it is throughout the tribe that put this crowd in power, as it was throughout the German and Austrian people who overwhelmingly supported the Nazis, and throughout the Nazi administration.
I don't see any difference, and neither will history.
7
If we truly do still have FREEDOM in spite of the recurring mantra that America is "A Land of Laws", then read on.......................
THE SECOND AMENDMENT;
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."
THE FOURTH AMENDMENT;
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
If you are righteous and law abiding, arm yourselves and defend you and your loved ones against the fascist government.
The takeover of America by the fascists has occurred slowly since Waco. It's mission creep. It didn't fool me.
THE SECOND AMENDMENT;
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."
THE FOURTH AMENDMENT;
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
If you are righteous and law abiding, arm yourselves and defend you and your loved ones against the fascist government.
The takeover of America by the fascists has occurred slowly since Waco. It's mission creep. It didn't fool me.
1
"Let Them Hate as Long as They Fear"
is the heading of an article written by Paul Krugman March 7, 2003, about our relationship with Mexico and the world in general.
When I heard John Kelly's remarks at George Washington University I had flashbacks of Geo. Bush and particularly Paul Wolfowitz.
Professor Krugman credited Romans Caligula and Cato with 'oderint dum metuant' with the title of his column and aptly applied it to modern Republican philosophy.
Eisenhower warned us several times that we would be stunned if we understood what the agenda of our hard right wing had in store for America and he was correct. We are stunned.
John Kelly and #45 remind me of a continuation of the Bush/Wolfowitz agenda on steroids taking us backwards in time as opposed to solving real world problems looking to our future.
I pray the world I leave behind really has a future.
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/07/opinion/let-them-hate-as-long-as-they-...
is the heading of an article written by Paul Krugman March 7, 2003, about our relationship with Mexico and the world in general.
When I heard John Kelly's remarks at George Washington University I had flashbacks of Geo. Bush and particularly Paul Wolfowitz.
Professor Krugman credited Romans Caligula and Cato with 'oderint dum metuant' with the title of his column and aptly applied it to modern Republican philosophy.
Eisenhower warned us several times that we would be stunned if we understood what the agenda of our hard right wing had in store for America and he was correct. We are stunned.
John Kelly and #45 remind me of a continuation of the Bush/Wolfowitz agenda on steroids taking us backwards in time as opposed to solving real world problems looking to our future.
I pray the world I leave behind really has a future.
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/07/opinion/let-them-hate-as-long-as-they-...
3
During the "War on Terror," 2001 - 2012, the number of U.S. troops killed in Iraq & Afghanistan was 6,488.
Those same years the number of women in the U.S. murdered by current or former domestic partners was 11,766.
Killed by domestic partners nearly double the number of troops KIA. Women murdered at home, in the workplace, in front of their children - by husbands, boyfriends, ex spouses, guys they dated who refused to recognize their humanity, men defying court orders of protection to kill them.
The last thing that makes women safe is bluster from an authoritarian bully demanding people "shut up" because he knows whats best for their own good.
The last thing that makes women safe is the obnoxious bullying POTUS who blew off women he physically assaulted as "liars." The POTUS who voices support for Bill O'Reilly & Roger Ailes -- the same O'Reilly & Ailes who spent decades tormenting dozens of female employees in a psychotic workplace - while they simultaneously used their powerful public platform to mock women & deny their rights.
When will Trump & Kelly understand millions of American women are most afraid of the men they're married to, divorced from or once dated who terrorize them? Or the guy at work who views them as playthings, threatening their physical safety & right to make a living? Or bullies who publicly advocate their 'right' to assault or belittle women -- women they regard as lesser beings.
Bullies like Donald Trump.
Those same years the number of women in the U.S. murdered by current or former domestic partners was 11,766.
Killed by domestic partners nearly double the number of troops KIA. Women murdered at home, in the workplace, in front of their children - by husbands, boyfriends, ex spouses, guys they dated who refused to recognize their humanity, men defying court orders of protection to kill them.
The last thing that makes women safe is bluster from an authoritarian bully demanding people "shut up" because he knows whats best for their own good.
The last thing that makes women safe is the obnoxious bullying POTUS who blew off women he physically assaulted as "liars." The POTUS who voices support for Bill O'Reilly & Roger Ailes -- the same O'Reilly & Ailes who spent decades tormenting dozens of female employees in a psychotic workplace - while they simultaneously used their powerful public platform to mock women & deny their rights.
When will Trump & Kelly understand millions of American women are most afraid of the men they're married to, divorced from or once dated who terrorize them? Or the guy at work who views them as playthings, threatening their physical safety & right to make a living? Or bullies who publicly advocate their 'right' to assault or belittle women -- women they regard as lesser beings.
Bullies like Donald Trump.
6
i had no idea the absolutely wealthy were so collectively stupid and living in fear. one would think that all that money would alleviate some stress from them. oh well silly rich folks. worrying about something or another. being rich is not enough. you gotta be in fear too. wow
1
Kelly needs to be cut loose before he does real damage.
3
Spam: self-promotion and marketing. The old trick. This will probably calm DHS agents down a lot, and make them more reasonable and friendly!
2
Speaking of fearmongering (and MONEY), since the Mexican company Cemex would likely benefit the most from building the wall between the US and Mexico, does anyone know how many, if any, shares of this firm are owned by Trump, his family, cabinet members, or closest billionaire best friends?
If Trump Builds a Wall, a Mexican Cement Maker Would Profit Most
July 15, 2016, 10:11 AM PDT
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-07-15/if-trump-builds-a-wal...
If Trump Builds a Wall, a Mexican Cement Maker Would Profit Most
July 15, 2016, 10:11 AM PDT
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-07-15/if-trump-builds-a-wal...
Wow. That was very weird what Kelly espoused.
Hello, Joe McCarthy, I think we need to root out the Ruskies because they are an existential threat to Great America.
Welcome to the 1950's, that is what Trump ran on and he is delivering on his pledge. Can't wait for checkpoints when leaving the Coastal States for Great America, but I haven't got my new Passport (there is the new federal ID Passport law already) .
Hello, Joe McCarthy, I think we need to root out the Ruskies because they are an existential threat to Great America.
Welcome to the 1950's, that is what Trump ran on and he is delivering on his pledge. Can't wait for checkpoints when leaving the Coastal States for Great America, but I haven't got my new Passport (there is the new federal ID Passport law already) .
2
With each passing day, the Trump administration validates the lessons of Orwell's Animal Farm for my students. With each passing day, the Trump administration validates the lessons on propaganda for my students. We live in El Paso, TX, with the lowest crime rate for a city its size in the Union. Billions of dollars cross this border area every year and thousands of citizens cross it daily to earn their living in Mexico. Mr. Kelley and Mr. Sessions both visited El Paso this week and used the same martial rhetoric, but very few were buying it. In fact, the crime rate is much higher in AG Sessions' hometown than on the "beachhead" I live on. This entire administration looks like a bunch of pigs to me and my students.
1
When Kelly tells Congressional critics to "shut up", he is really telling the American people to shut up. This is the message authoritarians send everywhere: they think that they know what is best, and that if the peons know what is good for them, they should shut up.
Mr. Kelly, you're 100% wrong. This is a free country, and in a free country citizens and their representatives have every right to criticize the DHS when it is poorly run, as it is now. We will not shut up.
Mr. Kelly, you're 100% wrong. This is a free country, and in a free country citizens and their representatives have every right to criticize the DHS when it is poorly run, as it is now. We will not shut up.
3
Boiler plate fear mongering from yet another poorly educated cabinet member with an agenda. Total BS from this guy. Yes the government agencies have been working hard to keep the public safe. They've done a great job since a republican president missed the attacks on 9/11/2001. So have the American people - our local vigilance has helped a great deal.
While America and Americans need to continue to be vigilant for our public safety I say there is no need at all for the federal government to tighten the screws on we the people - the eyes and ears of American Liberty.
While America and Americans need to continue to be vigilant for our public safety I say there is no need at all for the federal government to tighten the screws on we the people - the eyes and ears of American Liberty.
1
Trump said we'd be winning so much we'd get sick of winning.
Okay. I'm sick of winning. Trump was a win for Putin, for radical religioun-based terrorism, and for racism. He's the worst thing that couls have happened to American, and it all descends from 9/11/2001, exactly like that nasty little airteam and OBL wanted.
Trump was a win for the death of America. Wake up.
Okay. I'm sick of winning. Trump was a win for Putin, for radical religioun-based terrorism, and for racism. He's the worst thing that couls have happened to American, and it all descends from 9/11/2001, exactly like that nasty little airteam and OBL wanted.
Trump was a win for the death of America. Wake up.
6
This fear mongering is straight out of the GOP playbook - put the frighteners on us and tell us only the GOP can keep us safe.
Is there any reason to believe an administration with an incompetent buffoon at its head is especially good at anything?
The 9/11 attacks occurred because cabin doors had no locks, as they do now and as other countries had already put in place. But the airlines had a compliant audience when they whined about not wanting to spend money on that obvious safety measure.
The GOP has become an organization of con men, from top to bottom.
Is there any reason to believe an administration with an incompetent buffoon at its head is especially good at anything?
The 9/11 attacks occurred because cabin doors had no locks, as they do now and as other countries had already put in place. But the airlines had a compliant audience when they whined about not wanting to spend money on that obvious safety measure.
The GOP has become an organization of con men, from top to bottom.
11
Another troll that is the opposite of what he pretends like the criminal pervert in the white house.
5
The principal killer in the USA is the automobile.
5
The principal killer in the USA is other Americans.
1
No, it's people. Let's ban them.
Fearmongering worked in 2016 elections and will continue to work to "win".
Just wtch the commercials for lawyers, healthcare and pharmaceutical businesses. They all tell the viewers ho every little problem can be alife threating and so try our drug - first yalk to your doctor or lawyer. SO fearmongering is the latest marketing dtartegy. It worked in the US and UK and Turkastan. And it will continue to work in France, Iran and Germany and the fears will come true.
Just wtch the commercials for lawyers, healthcare and pharmaceutical businesses. They all tell the viewers ho every little problem can be alife threating and so try our drug - first yalk to your doctor or lawyer. SO fearmongering is the latest marketing dtartegy. It worked in the US and UK and Turkastan. And it will continue to work in France, Iran and Germany and the fears will come true.
1
So this is one of the "grown-ups" with multiple stars we are depending upon to stop trump/bannon/sessions/miller from realizing their fascistic dreams? And "grown-up" star-bearer mattis playing along with the "steaming armada hoax? And what exactly is happening with the investigations into Putin/Trump collusion? People, we are so seriously in trouble here.
5
Does Kelly let his liquor do the talking like Steve Bannon and Kellyanne Conway or is he just nuts?
5
Surprised? Not me. All we've seen and heard from the Right, esp. post 9/11 - is a constant ratcheting up of the fear mongering...mainly becuase it works with their core, while attracting the more timid among us.
What we've seen and is now locked in to the Rights rhetoric, thanks to Trump, is ignoring facts in favor of fear propaganda. "Be afraid. Be very afraid," they keep saying, while only pointing to ethereal threats....which are typically just outside probabilities. Boogey men. Which stems in part from the Rights alleged deep xtian convictions. That the righteous are always under constant attack from "outside" forces...namely, the World at large. The World is full of sin, and we must always be on alert, and always ready to shoot first...and screw the questions.
What I want from our DHS+ employees, is proof that they are actually doing a good job. Its not good enough to keep saying, "Well there hasnt been anything like 9/11 since...so see, we're on it.!" Not good enough! I want to see progress reports that clearly show us, the taxpayers, the where and whats and the who, that the efforts of DHS (and others) have actually thwarted real attacks/events. Real threats that were undermined. And not just a few random people of interest arrested ina sting operation...but real conspiracy plots, with several actors that link directly to our defined enemies.
As a taxpayer, and their Employer, I demand to see real data that proves their claims.
What we've seen and is now locked in to the Rights rhetoric, thanks to Trump, is ignoring facts in favor of fear propaganda. "Be afraid. Be very afraid," they keep saying, while only pointing to ethereal threats....which are typically just outside probabilities. Boogey men. Which stems in part from the Rights alleged deep xtian convictions. That the righteous are always under constant attack from "outside" forces...namely, the World at large. The World is full of sin, and we must always be on alert, and always ready to shoot first...and screw the questions.
What I want from our DHS+ employees, is proof that they are actually doing a good job. Its not good enough to keep saying, "Well there hasnt been anything like 9/11 since...so see, we're on it.!" Not good enough! I want to see progress reports that clearly show us, the taxpayers, the where and whats and the who, that the efforts of DHS (and others) have actually thwarted real attacks/events. Real threats that were undermined. And not just a few random people of interest arrested ina sting operation...but real conspiracy plots, with several actors that link directly to our defined enemies.
As a taxpayer, and their Employer, I demand to see real data that proves their claims.
What do you get for crossing an idiot with an imbecille? Winner owes me 10,000 dollars.
3
I don't think we've ever had a Homeland Security Secretary be so disrespectful to the American public in general, and I think he owes everyone an apology.
I don't care what his positon is or who he thinks he is, he's not in the military anymore and this is a democracy not a military state; if he doesn't like answering questions, taking criticism or being held accountable to the elected governmental representatives regardless of party and fundamental laws, then he should just get the hell out himself!
The American people know what the score is, and are not children; I've been nervous going in public places for years and it has nothing to do with terrorism. It has more to do with the quantity of guns and the nuts who are allowed to buy them by a society, who I feel in many ways is held hostage by the NRA and right wing extremists.
I'm 61 years old and don't need to be lectured by someone who may or may not understand what it is like to live in a free and open society.
I don't care what his positon is or who he thinks he is, he's not in the military anymore and this is a democracy not a military state; if he doesn't like answering questions, taking criticism or being held accountable to the elected governmental representatives regardless of party and fundamental laws, then he should just get the hell out himself!
The American people know what the score is, and are not children; I've been nervous going in public places for years and it has nothing to do with terrorism. It has more to do with the quantity of guns and the nuts who are allowed to buy them by a society, who I feel in many ways is held hostage by the NRA and right wing extremists.
I'm 61 years old and don't need to be lectured by someone who may or may not understand what it is like to live in a free and open society.
11
Stupid, crazy or evil, Kelly for the trifecta.
1
Mongering fear is its purpose.
6
Notwithstanding the fact that Trump and his gang of crazies are knowingly promoting fear as a political strategy we must not believe it is irrational on our part to envision an apocalyptic future for this country. We must recognize that most of the time we are a nation with a mostly sleepy to indifferent citizenry and therefore always vulnerable. Trump tells me we must give up the illusion that our future is secure and that we have divine guarantees that our democracy will survive a determined or even a haphazard effort to undermine our politics. From a personal point of view, fear at this point in time does not seem an unhealthy response to the implications of the Trump presidency. I hope I'm not alone in thinking that way.
If only Trump, Kelly or any member whosoever of this administration would follow their own advice just once, they would be the ones shutting up.
Instead we'll see the country continue to be militarized and our own citizens treated as enemy combatants.
Yes, I am afraid. Of our own government.
Feeling secure? Nope.
Instead we'll see the country continue to be militarized and our own citizens treated as enemy combatants.
Yes, I am afraid. Of our own government.
Feeling secure? Nope.
6
Secretary Kelly, AG Sessions and the POTUS look at places like Turkey and salivate. Or France where the POTUS hopes a terrorist attack will lead to the victory of another right wing authoritarian. One can guess they hope for an incident here which will save them the effort of manufacturing one.
Let's go, people! A gun in every pot, and an armored Hummer in every driveway!
3
I hear you have quite a police force in WPB to keep out the Miami folks.
Another chapter taken out of Mein Kemp used in Trump's playbook. The use of fear is major weapon used by every would be dictator to gain power. When people like Trump and Kelly talk about being safe they mean safe to exploit people and safe to turn a Democracy into a dictatorship.
Be afraid, be very afraid.
Be afraid, be very afraid.
8
This editorial is really trying to get at the fundamental hypocrisy of politicians who simultaneously claim to support strict constitutional originalism while welcoming the ongoing trampling of rights for what is usually little more than security theater. Was it Franklin who stated "those who would give up liberty to purchase safety deserve neither"?
4
For those of us who lost colleagues on 9/11 and recall the first WTC bombing in 1993, his warnings ring true.
5
Another step forward to becoming a military dictatorship.
4
This is the kind of fear mongering that leads to the creation of a fascist police state - where most citizens are criminal suspects or potential terrorists until proven innocent; where all citizens must surrender their dignity and civil rights to achieve the aims of the security state . Just one more step in the Republican led destruction of our democracy.
8
On September 11, 2001, 2,996 Americans were killed in the largest terrorist attack carried out in the United States.
Between September 12, 2001, and December 31, 2001, roughly 3,650 Americans were murdered by other Americans. Since then, some 200,000 more Americans have been murdered... by other Americans, and roughly 500,000 Americans have been killed in motor vehicle crashes.
Do you know anyone terrified of cars? I don't.
Between September 12, 2001, and December 31, 2001, roughly 3,650 Americans were murdered by other Americans. Since then, some 200,000 more Americans have been murdered... by other Americans, and roughly 500,000 Americans have been killed in motor vehicle crashes.
Do you know anyone terrified of cars? I don't.
63
The comparison of terrorism related deaths to those recorded in motor vehicle accidents is a false equivalency. The use of motor vehicles has valid social, economic and personal benefits that are balanced against a level of risk that is generally accepted in modern society. In addition, to a certain degree, it is possible to avoid some interaction with motor vehicles. Not so with terrorists.
1
Well, this is the fallacy that is used against gun control as well. Cars come with risks but they are not terrifying. Are we over-concerned with the likelihood of terror? Yes. Is our approach to reducing our exposure to terror the best? We ought to be more concerned with how terrorism arises and what we can do to prevent those conditions. Sealing food containers is a better method of dealing with mice in the house than shooting them.
1
Yes but the attack is all from the inside. 30,000+ gun deaths annually, 55,000 deaths from drug ODs, 30,000+ deaths from vehicle accidents, declining life spans for white males et cetara.
24
Part of the answer to your very valid point--although I do not agree with the word "all" -- is that people do not understand risk or alternately probability of an event happening.mIt is well documented that public often demands something done about relatively low level risks, while completely ignoring much larger, and more consequential risks of which you have provided 3 excellent examples.
I am very, very afraid. Of people like Secretary Kelly.
58
I am very, very afraid of the person who put him there.
Don't worry, Mr. Kelly. I and many of my friends are very, very afraid. With President Trump at the helm of our nuclear arsenal, who shouldn't be???
31
"The Donald" ran his presidential campaign on the premise he would deliver Jobs, Jobs, and Jobs. So far the only jobs he has delivered on are Boarder Patrol, Security, ICE, and Military. A phenomenal uptick in the Military and police will not lead to greater security for the people of America, rather a depletion of our values and way of life. For all those who continue to support this administration, you are getting exactly what you deserve. All others we must resist, resist, resist!
19
The chance that any one of us or even someone we know will be involved in a terrorist attack are one in a million (or more). But every person on the planet will be affected by climate change. This administration should stop with the terrorist fear-mongering and accept the reality of climate chnage.
38
Perhaps. But it is, in the case of 9/11, and it is several friends massacred, the odds you state are meaningless. You seem to imply, like our apologist mayor, Duh Blasio, that we should just get used to it snd accept our "fate." You may, but I and many others shall not.
3
Holy cow - another authoritarian leader! Time to pay attention, be informed and be prepared to resist.
16
Of course we're under attack. Trump and his minions are determined to destroy everything that's good about America and I for one am very afraid of them.
28
I wonder if Mr. Kelly is telling people that they do not have enough guns in their homes.
10
"Complacent" Mr. Kelly? What do you want us to do - buy more guns? I'd say that actively working hard to pay taxes to have a Homeland Security Department and paying your salary to protect us is not what I call "complacent."
Americans are busy pursuing Happiness while you, your boss and W-Cheney before you are pursuing fear as a way to control and manipulate us - so much for freedom.
Becoming a victim of domestic terrorism, ISIS, Al-Qaeda, racists, etc. is real but small. The terror posed by Republicans and this administration with the loss of health coverage for tens of millions of citizens and the deaths it will cause is real and substantial. The terror imposed by this same group against all immigrants is real and substantial. The terror against the environment we all share inside and outside America is real, substantial and growing.
South Chicago, beware the MOAB "heavy artillery" as Trump-Kelly's simple solution to the gun violence there - they do not believe in any innocent lives there. If Congress won't pass a law against dropping the MOAB on South Chicago, they should shut up, right?
The autocratic administration reign of terror has begun - "Shut up Press", "Shut up Congress" - the Commander-n-Chief has the weapons.
2018 will be the time for voters to reverse the terror back onto the real terrorist fearmongers amongst us pretending to have our backs while taking away our freedom and security.
Americans are busy pursuing Happiness while you, your boss and W-Cheney before you are pursuing fear as a way to control and manipulate us - so much for freedom.
Becoming a victim of domestic terrorism, ISIS, Al-Qaeda, racists, etc. is real but small. The terror posed by Republicans and this administration with the loss of health coverage for tens of millions of citizens and the deaths it will cause is real and substantial. The terror imposed by this same group against all immigrants is real and substantial. The terror against the environment we all share inside and outside America is real, substantial and growing.
South Chicago, beware the MOAB "heavy artillery" as Trump-Kelly's simple solution to the gun violence there - they do not believe in any innocent lives there. If Congress won't pass a law against dropping the MOAB on South Chicago, they should shut up, right?
The autocratic administration reign of terror has begun - "Shut up Press", "Shut up Congress" - the Commander-n-Chief has the weapons.
2018 will be the time for voters to reverse the terror back onto the real terrorist fearmongers amongst us pretending to have our backs while taking away our freedom and security.
16
"They despise the United States, because we are a nation of rights, of laws and of freedoms." No they don't. If that was the case, they would be going after Canada, not the USA. They despise us because we use our military to oppress and kill anyone who does not agree with our view of the world. And, now we have a president who has no qualms about invading other sovereign nations' territory. Oh, that will make them love us...
13
Mssrs Trump, Kelly, et al, are straight out of central casting for a remake of Orwell's 1984.
13
What a sorry bunch of ham-fisted goons in this admistration. They use fear and intimidation tactics that are right out of the Stalin playbook.
It was laughable when Trump wouldn't even utter quarterback Tom Brady's name during the Patriot's visit (reminiscent of those doctored photos of Kremlin politicos who were 'disappeared' from Stalin's regime) because he felt disrespected by Brady's absence on Wednesday.
And Sessions dismissing Hawaii as just some island in the Pacific, after the 9th circuit blocked the illegal immigrant ban.
Now here is Kelly trying to gin up fear and panic, perhaps to justify more rollbacks of individual rights. I'm waiting for the next episode of "Let's Discriminate Against People Who Don't Look or Pray Like Us" on the sorry reality-TV spectacle that this administration has created in its less than 100-day reign of ineptitude.
It was laughable when Trump wouldn't even utter quarterback Tom Brady's name during the Patriot's visit (reminiscent of those doctored photos of Kremlin politicos who were 'disappeared' from Stalin's regime) because he felt disrespected by Brady's absence on Wednesday.
And Sessions dismissing Hawaii as just some island in the Pacific, after the 9th circuit blocked the illegal immigrant ban.
Now here is Kelly trying to gin up fear and panic, perhaps to justify more rollbacks of individual rights. I'm waiting for the next episode of "Let's Discriminate Against People Who Don't Look or Pray Like Us" on the sorry reality-TV spectacle that this administration has created in its less than 100-day reign of ineptitude.
16
How is this different from the previous administration? There is no difference.
The last sentence in this article is the essence of what the orange one and his minions are attempting to achieve. Faux News and hate radio have fertilized and tilled the ground for decades. The orange one and his minions are the textbook definition of the "fifth column" that will destroy your country and democracy from within, but only if you let them. The nation's fate is truly inn the hands of the real patriots who believe and adhere to your constitution.
15
Kelly was sold as a reasonable, professional military man.
Instead, he turns out to be another Trump administration fear-mongering, authoritarian fascist functionary.
Just the type of guy his boss is comfortable with (as witness Trump's recent laudatory call to Turkey's Erdogan on the election victory bolstering his strongman powers).
Instead, he turns out to be another Trump administration fear-mongering, authoritarian fascist functionary.
Just the type of guy his boss is comfortable with (as witness Trump's recent laudatory call to Turkey's Erdogan on the election victory bolstering his strongman powers).
8
This is a sign of the death agony of capitalism. How else can the super-rich commanders of capital keep control of their fortune and their desire to accrue even more wealth while plunging the world into chaos and poverty? Their only control over us they have is fear and violence--fear that everyone around us is our enemy, our competitor--even within our own families! And the threat of violence--world ending violence from their nuclear arsenal and the violence of community police occupation and mass incarceration controlled by the 0.001 percent who own the bulk of the wealth of the world. We cannot have peace, freedom, justice and social equality without economic equality for all by sharing the wealth of the world--the wealth that working people create and that the commanders of capital confiscate/steal, and store in off-shore bank accounts. Capitalism is doomed. We are left with only two choices, as Rosa Luxembourg warned long ago: It's either Socialism or Barbarism! The good news! The masses of working people--employed or unemployed; undocumented or documented; immigrant or indigenous; united together in solidarity to build a better world are the only power stronger than the tiny minority of capitalist despots currently in power by the threat of death to the world. Only we can disarm them and organize society with love, economic and social democracy, with equality and justice for all! We have nothing to lose and a world to win! Viva la Revolution!
3
When Kelly talks about men and women without conscience, who operate outside the rules of law and propriety, he may as well be speaking of the Donald and his minions: Ivanka, Jared, Bannon, Pruitt, Sessions and the list goes on ...
"A man's foes will be thine of his own household" Matthew 10.36
"A man's foes will be thine of his own household" Matthew 10.36
14
And I thought that Trump and his motley crew of frat boys would make us safer. The only people afraid of Trump aren't the terrorists, they're innocent Americans.
6
We are not "under attack." That would require actual attacks to be taking place. The only attacks that have happened recently in this country have been perpetrated by Americans, not the "them" Mr. Kelly refers to. Are people issuing threats against us that we should take seriously? Sure, I'll believe that. Not the same thing as being "under attack." And can we please retire the old "they hate our freedoms" line? It's an insult not only to Muslim and Arab people worldwide, but to the intelligence of average Americans. People are stupid, but not THAT stupid.
108
Agreed up to the point of people not being that stupid. Basically they are. When GWB uttered those, they hate us because we love freedom and democracy words, shortly after 9/11/01, I thought the joke to be ill-timed. He wasn't joking and half the country agreed and believed it. Many in this country believed that Saddam H. and Iraq were behind the 9/11 attacks. People here what they want to hear. That makes those people pretty stupid.
No, we are THAT stupid which is how Trump got elected and how we keep sending the same idiots to Congress. A poll in Texas the other day shows Trump with low approval ratings, yet 85% of Republicans in Texas claim they approve of Trump's performance so far. Even if one supports Trump's stated policies, how can anyone think he's doing a good job? You can if you're THAT stupid (or simply living in denial).
Americans ignore the fact that more Americans have died in bathtub accidents than terrorism. They ignore the fact that there were 13,000 non-suicide related gun deaths in the U.S. in 2015. And they ignore homegrown terrorism perpetuated by White Christians because it's so much more fun to hate Muslims and other immigrants. And they certainly ignore all the deaths from environmental and pollution-related diseases.
I think politicians who insult our intelligence have been proven to do pretty well in the U.S.
Americans ignore the fact that more Americans have died in bathtub accidents than terrorism. They ignore the fact that there were 13,000 non-suicide related gun deaths in the U.S. in 2015. And they ignore homegrown terrorism perpetuated by White Christians because it's so much more fun to hate Muslims and other immigrants. And they certainly ignore all the deaths from environmental and pollution-related diseases.
I think politicians who insult our intelligence have been proven to do pretty well in the U.S.
Bravo to the Times for pointing out the folly of this brand of fear-mongering. Ironic that the Administration correctly states that its enemies are operating "without rules" and envies America because it has and upholds them, then propagates the type of sentiment that is very likely to perpetuate the executive's skirting of our envious "rights, laws and freedoms".
2
Demagoguery. Top to bottom. An old story, part of a path to power. Germany post WWI. Turkey today. And, it works unless the electorate is exceptional. So it goes, down the slippery slope.
11
It's already happening. Without going into detail, I work in an environment that deals with TSA on a regular basis. During the Obama administration these interactions were very pleasant and professional. In the last few months, however, they have become aggressive, overwhelmingly thorough, and very curt. I cannot help but to think that the bullying mentality of the Trump administration- that sees enemies in every American face that doesn't look, think, and act just like them- is to blame.
We have already given up enough freedom and privacy in the wake of the September 11 attacks, both in the Bush administration's grotesque overreactions and the continuing metadata spying upon innocent Americans. Now, we have a Marine Corps General running the Homeland Security department. I think it's important for him, and the Trump administration, to remember that our government is not militarily run, and civilians are not soldiers who are supposed to just shut up and follow orders.
Personally, if I were living in another country I would do everything in my power to avoid visiting the United States as long as Trump is in office. Regardless of whether business, education, or tourism, even if I were British or Canadian, I would be thinking elsewhere.
This heavy handed, brutalist mentality will not only cost us economically, it will have a major impact on the morale and productivity of American citizens who instead of just going about their day in peace, are now viewed as criminals.
We have already given up enough freedom and privacy in the wake of the September 11 attacks, both in the Bush administration's grotesque overreactions and the continuing metadata spying upon innocent Americans. Now, we have a Marine Corps General running the Homeland Security department. I think it's important for him, and the Trump administration, to remember that our government is not militarily run, and civilians are not soldiers who are supposed to just shut up and follow orders.
Personally, if I were living in another country I would do everything in my power to avoid visiting the United States as long as Trump is in office. Regardless of whether business, education, or tourism, even if I were British or Canadian, I would be thinking elsewhere.
This heavy handed, brutalist mentality will not only cost us economically, it will have a major impact on the morale and productivity of American citizens who instead of just going about their day in peace, are now viewed as criminals.
11
Kelly's fearmongering, bans, raids, and deportations are an affront to standards of human dignity. These are not the stuff of democratic policy but more like the practices of a teacher who sets out to control his class by making an example of the most vulnerable. America has better ways of defending itself from real threats to its security.
Our country suffers from a paranoid style that demonizes outsiders. Remember the Palmer raids from your American history courses?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmer_Raids
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) was born of such times. We are going to need all their best legal strategizing and massive resistance to stop the harm Kelly, Trump, et al are inflicting now.
Our country suffers from a paranoid style that demonizes outsiders. Remember the Palmer raids from your American history courses?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmer_Raids
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) was born of such times. We are going to need all their best legal strategizing and massive resistance to stop the harm Kelly, Trump, et al are inflicting now.
7
Amen to the editorial! Kelly is use to a rule for everything and enforce every rule - regardless of any other facts. Where would this country be following Kelly in the Civil Rights Era. He is a scary person who is use to the military service rules, orders and actions, not a democracy where judgment comes into play in enforcing a rule or law or how to treat people.
2
I believe that most of us realize that there are real terrorist threats out there. I believe, in fact, that most Americans believe that the threat of terrorism to their safety or that of their loved ones to be far more significant than it is in realty. That is due in part to media and political hype, and also due to the nature of terrorism itself. It is meant to bring about a sense of dread and insecurity. Polemics like Mr. Kelly's speech needlessly ramp up the fear without actually offering solutions. Of course Americans want terrorists fought and found. But the truth of the matter is that it has generally had little to do with immigration. Conflating terrorism and immigration is disingenuous politics, not National Security leadership.
10
People like Kelly who only see the dark side of things are nervous wrecks themselves and make those under them anxiety-ridden. It’s a shame. Many of the inspectors who’ve stamped my passport have been rigorous in scrutinizing it, but courteous, gentlemanly and welcoming at the same time. Before he’s done, Kelly will have all of them acting like big, bad bears.
2
Mr. Kelly's incendiary and fear-mongering remarks don't surprise me. On the eve of Congressional Budget battles, this is how Homeland Security plans to get a big increases in funding. New funds will surely be allocated to all forms of security, including the Border Wall and Prisons. The USA already incarcerates the highest % of its residents in the World (which is "great" for those companies that build and operate prisons in the USA). On the other hand, Health, Education, Environmental Protection (among others) will all suffer cuts... all to "Make America Great Again." Go figure!
4
A broad range of political and establishment figures (including many in the pages of the NYTimes) applauded or showed relief at the appointment of figures like Kelly, Mattis, and McMaster as "adults" in the room in the Trump administration. The militarization of a civilian government leads directly to the kind of rhetoric and attitudes this editorial decries. No one should be surprised (and Trump didn't invent this particular problem, though he has taken it to new lengths). The United States still lives in the shadow of the Vietnam syndrome leaving us very reluctant to criticize military leaders. Military officers should have specific and limited roles, and roles clearly subordinate to the civilian institutions that Kelly so blithely criticizes. We're not (yet) a banana republic.
3
We have always been a nation under attack. We have in place the most varied and sophisticated systems in the world mitigating those threats. Currently, far more TSA people have been arrested for crimes inflicted on the public than people apprehended for threats to the public. To be clear this is all about money. Pensions money, operating budget money, training money, a vast industry is fed by instilling fear. Taxpayer money, making those in the security club rich or well supported for life. Individuals using fear to promote their own wealth, well being or sense of self importance. Or should I say overcompensating for their underlying sense of impotence?
I think there is a mistake here. What he more likely said was...“We are under attack from terrorism both within and outside of our borders. These men and women are without conscience, and they operate without rules. They despise the United States, because we are a nation of rights, of laws and of freedoms. They have a single mission, and that is our destruction.
But enough about us here in the Trump administration. There are also people who would do harm to the United States due to the fact that we have been meddling and invading and violating, all over the globe, just to advance the interest of a small number of wealthy well-connected plutocrats and oligarchs, in spite of the fact that it's usually in direct opposition to what's actually in the best interest of the majority of Americans."
But enough about us here in the Trump administration. There are also people who would do harm to the United States due to the fact that we have been meddling and invading and violating, all over the globe, just to advance the interest of a small number of wealthy well-connected plutocrats and oligarchs, in spite of the fact that it's usually in direct opposition to what's actually in the best interest of the majority of Americans."
2
The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. And with thinking like this fear is what we will become.
"...These men and women are without conscience, and they operate without rules. They despise the United States, because we are a nation of rights, of laws and of freedoms. They have a single mission, and that is our destruction.”
I'm confused; is Secretary Kelly talking about terrorists or the administration?
We succeed against this threat not solely by the application of aggressive counterterrorism, but by remembering who we are. By following the rules. By avoiding the simplistic narrative of good vs. evil that allow the fundamentalists - on both sides of this battle - to commit evil and degrade the rights of free men and women everywhere.
I'm confused; is Secretary Kelly talking about terrorists or the administration?
We succeed against this threat not solely by the application of aggressive counterterrorism, but by remembering who we are. By following the rules. By avoiding the simplistic narrative of good vs. evil that allow the fundamentalists - on both sides of this battle - to commit evil and degrade the rights of free men and women everywhere.
1
We are most definitely a "nation under attack": by the Trump administration. How far will they go? Breaking doors in the middle of the night to seize people? If they can ignore due process with immigrants, who might be next?
Is there any way to return to sanity, to tolerance, to respect for the rule of law?
I hope so--but I'm far from certain.
Is there any way to return to sanity, to tolerance, to respect for the rule of law?
I hope so--but I'm far from certain.
6
it was a goal of Russian state interference in the West to destabilize the body politic and to encourage dissent and disruption. They wanted to defang the European Union by dismembering it and they raised questions about the effectiveness of NATO and local elections.
It does no good to discuss the effect without understanding the cause.
It does no good to discuss the effect without understanding the cause.
1
"It ignores that the United States has spent billions of dollars over the past 15 years greatly enhancing its intelligence collection capabilities and that it has put in place far more stringent mechanisms to screen visa applicants and visitors.
Disregarding these gains. . ."
Since when is a loss of liberty a gain?
Osama bin Laden has won. The concrete barricades around every government building are his monument; the trigger-happy police his honor guard.
Our government and our news media has made us a nation of cowards.
Disregarding these gains. . ."
Since when is a loss of liberty a gain?
Osama bin Laden has won. The concrete barricades around every government building are his monument; the trigger-happy police his honor guard.
Our government and our news media has made us a nation of cowards.
"If Americans take his discourse at face value, they will be living in a paranoid society willing to trade fundamental freedoms and principles for a sense of security." Clearly this is the intention.
There has no been more successful campaign in modern history - I am referring to our enemies. With their brand of terrorism they defeated our will to be free. We have the most powerful defense forces in the history of mankind, yet our government tells us to live in fear. We no longer see diversity as enriching but rather as threat. Intellectual curiosity and exploration has morphed into a culture of walls and appearance based bigotry. All this makes us distracted from our real problems which are indeed killing us - Opioid epidemic, guns, lack of access to medical care and mental health. I am afraid. And very afraid that many of our citizens will needlessly die of preventable causes.
2
This administration is reminding me of all the propaganda that was pushed out by the Bush/Cheney administration on the push to go attack Iraq. When fear tactics are used, I immediately become distrustful. I was distrustful back then and am distrustful now. I was fine with the bombing of Syria for the chemical weapons use, but now Trump has turned 180 degrees from his campaign pledges of America First and seems to be itching for war with a number of countries, all at once. Can't we just stop selling guns to those on the terrorists list, watch those on the terrorist list, and enjoy our time on this earth?
2
Well, dead people cannot enjoy liberal and justice. If we are about to be maimed and killed, we expect that survival might mean diminishing peoples' freedom. But nobody knows of any imminent threat, what are being considered are relative ones, ones that are described in terms of risks, based upon past history and expected possibilities. When we consider risks a lot of secondary considerations come into play. How much of our liberties and respect for individuals conducting themselves freely must we abandon to keep risks acceptable? Do we apply restrictions to all or just to those we feel pose the greater level of threats? Can we say that non-Muslims can be free but not Muslims? How about citizens who are determined to understand the why and how of what our government does independently of propagandists' narratives? How about the freedoms of people towards who supporters of those in power resent and wish to suppress?
No surprises here. This has been ongoing since the 2015-2016 primary season. I saw peaceful protesters and the press attacked or insulted, but I really saw Americans against Americans and it is sinful that we have become our own worst enemies.
At the end of the day, 46 percent of Americans love this hateful climate and until they have a change of heart or hear some effective preaching in their non diverse churches on Sunday morning, the fear mongering will continue. Shameful!
At the end of the day, 46 percent of Americans love this hateful climate and until they have a change of heart or hear some effective preaching in their non diverse churches on Sunday morning, the fear mongering will continue. Shameful!
4
Kelly needs to dial it back a bit. The USA is not a warzone unless he makes it one. Kelly is just another example of soldiers attempting to bring their military mindsets and methods into civilian jobs (think militarization of local police forces), with less than stellar results.
The real danger in the USA is the government sponsored proliferation of handguns, now in excess of 300 million. The most recent data show an annual death rate in excess of 33,000 people (90+/day).
Where is the GOP outrage over these deaths?
The real danger in the USA is the government sponsored proliferation of handguns, now in excess of 300 million. The most recent data show an annual death rate in excess of 33,000 people (90+/day).
Where is the GOP outrage over these deaths?
3
The biggest threat to our national security is Donald Trump. September 11 created a collective post traumatic shock in this country, so that any threat or attack sends people into a blind panic. Sadly, most of the threats will come from US citizens with a perceived ax to grind, and ISIS and other terrorist groups will be more than happy to take credit. These lone wolf attacks are best handled by traditional law enforcement; however, the over-aggressiveness of police into an occupying army, deportation squad, and judge and jury will destroy any relationship with the communities they serve. This makes it more difficult to infiltrate home grown terrorist groups and thus, further endangers citizens.
1
Given the advanced years of both Mr. Trump and Mr. Kelly, this sounds less like a fear for Homeland Security, than the fear of their own mortality.
3
Hundreds of billions of dollars have been spent on security since 9/11. If we are no safer now than we were then, that money has been foolishly wasted. Is that Mr. Kelly's message?
3
"They despise the United States, because we are a nation of rights, of laws and of freedoms."
This statement is just plain stupid. No one will believe it.
First, it makes the arrogant assumption that we're perfect. So for a start, let's not brag so glibly. That's one thing other nations do despise about the USA.
Secondly, it wants us to believe that there is an army out there made up of people who hate freedom and human rights. Good luck finding that kind of enemy. Better to be less simplistic if we want to protect ourselves.
This statement is just plain stupid. No one will believe it.
First, it makes the arrogant assumption that we're perfect. So for a start, let's not brag so glibly. That's one thing other nations do despise about the USA.
Secondly, it wants us to believe that there is an army out there made up of people who hate freedom and human rights. Good luck finding that kind of enemy. Better to be less simplistic if we want to protect ourselves.
3
It's not entirely clear whether Mr. Kelly actually believes this danger himself, or if his work is part of the larger plan by the uber-wealthy and/or nationalists to finally establish the police state they have dreamed of for years, without actually calling it that. The Patriot Act got us headed in that direction, which many people forget included visits to libraries by the FBI demanding to see user records for books checked out. With a racist and nationalist at the head of DOJ, and other like-minded people in key positions, the shift is becoming more pronounced.
What's particularly troubling is the attitude of many Americans who lack any understanding of civics, politics, and various historical contexts, but who voraciously consume hate talk radio and Internet fear-mongering videos, and are embracing this sort of lockdown as necessary for their/our "protection."
The social and political experiment that is the great United States is still continuing to unfold, from 1776 to the present. It is not static and will not stay alive as envisioned unless 'we the people' make it so. Abdication and subordination of our rights is entirely possible here.
What's particularly troubling is the attitude of many Americans who lack any understanding of civics, politics, and various historical contexts, but who voraciously consume hate talk radio and Internet fear-mongering videos, and are embracing this sort of lockdown as necessary for their/our "protection."
The social and political experiment that is the great United States is still continuing to unfold, from 1776 to the present. It is not static and will not stay alive as envisioned unless 'we the people' make it so. Abdication and subordination of our rights is entirely possible here.
1
"They despise the United States, because we are a nation of rights, of laws and of freedoms. They have a single mission, and that is our destruction.” They have already destroyed the United States by giving people like Trump an enemy to rally the ignorant masses against, so these ignorant masses don't notice the "deconstruction" of our country in the interests of the extremely wealthy.
1
A common argument is to cite statistics based on past events showing that Americans are more at risk doing a whole host of daily activities than they are from attacks by terrorists.
Just yesterday, the NYT published an article about the efforts of jihadis to obtain nuclear weapons in Pakistan. In that article, the ex head of Pakistani security had this to say: The international community, working with the United Nations Atomic Energy Agency or the United Nations Security Council, must take action to prevent a global catastrophe before it is too late.” https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/20/opinion/the-world-must-secure-pakista...®ion=opinion-c-col-right-region&WT.nav=opinion-c-col-right-region
Citing statistics showing that something like slipping in a bathtub is a greater risk than terrorist activities completely ignores the fact that the risk from terrorism is not linear and will explode if jihadis ever get their hands on weapons such as these.
Just yesterday, the NYT published an article about the efforts of jihadis to obtain nuclear weapons in Pakistan. In that article, the ex head of Pakistani security had this to say: The international community, working with the United Nations Atomic Energy Agency or the United Nations Security Council, must take action to prevent a global catastrophe before it is too late.” https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/20/opinion/the-world-must-secure-pakista...®ion=opinion-c-col-right-region&WT.nav=opinion-c-col-right-region
Citing statistics showing that something like slipping in a bathtub is a greater risk than terrorist activities completely ignores the fact that the risk from terrorism is not linear and will explode if jihadis ever get their hands on weapons such as these.
Kelly said, among other things, "They despise the United States, because we are a nation of rights, of laws and of freedoms. They have a single mission, and that is our destruction.”
Be afraid; they control the government.
Be afraid; they control the government.
2
Ret. Gen. Kelly needs some lessons in civics and, especially, in national pride. We should take a lesson from the British, who, although they are vigilant, choose to live in an atmosphere of calm and freedom rather than a paranoid, fearful, lockdown.
This administration has got to go . . .
This administration has got to go . . .
3
"These men and women are without conscience, and they operate without rules. They despise the United States, because we are a nation of rights, of laws and of freedoms. They have a single mission, and that is our destruction.”
Sounds like the Trump White House.
Sounds like the Trump White House.
1
Wasn't Kelly supposed to be one of the more competent, professional ones among the generally unsuitable Trump appointees? Guess not. Sad.
1
One of the more obvious ways we are under attack is the meddling in our election processes by foreign powers. How does Mr. Kelly plan to address this?
1
I don't agree with everything the Trump administration is doing with regard to illegal immigrants, but at least they are taking strong action to stop this country's invasion by relatively uneducated, low-skilled, people who don't speak our language and don't share many of our values. For that the Trump administration deserves credit.
Fear mongering about terrorism has been the Republicans' primary political strategy since 9-11. It has turned The Home of The Brave into a nation of cowards, anxiously looking for terrorists under our beds where Republicans of an earlier generation looked for communists.
The concern about massive illegal immigration is a separate issue which actually does impose high costs on our society, especially lower skilled citizens, and on our environment; we need fewer, not more people. Illegal immigration cannot be controlled as long as 'migrants' know that they are welcomed, celebrated, and given 'sanctuary' by well-meaning progressives who ignore the long term consequences, and by cynical politicians who see them as undocumented Democrats. "... Useful disincentives for would-be migrants..." will discourage border crossers and visa abusers far more effectively than a wall. Disincentives are negative by definition and quite incompatible with welcoming, celebrating and sanctifying. We cannot control illegal immigration until we celebrate and embrace disincentives for both the 'migrants' and those who employ them.
The concern about massive illegal immigration is a separate issue which actually does impose high costs on our society, especially lower skilled citizens, and on our environment; we need fewer, not more people. Illegal immigration cannot be controlled as long as 'migrants' know that they are welcomed, celebrated, and given 'sanctuary' by well-meaning progressives who ignore the long term consequences, and by cynical politicians who see them as undocumented Democrats. "... Useful disincentives for would-be migrants..." will discourage border crossers and visa abusers far more effectively than a wall. Disincentives are negative by definition and quite incompatible with welcoming, celebrating and sanctifying. We cannot control illegal immigration until we celebrate and embrace disincentives for both the 'migrants' and those who employ them.
"We are in fact a nation under attack."
"These men and women are without conscience, and they operate without rules. They despise the United States, because we are a nation of rights, of laws and of freedoms. They have a single mission, and that is our destruction.”
The Trump administration is describing itself here. I am not afraid of ISIS; I am afraid of the United States.
"These men and women are without conscience, and they operate without rules. They despise the United States, because we are a nation of rights, of laws and of freedoms. They have a single mission, and that is our destruction.”
The Trump administration is describing itself here. I am not afraid of ISIS; I am afraid of the United States.
3
We are waiting for this nightmare to end. We need every bit of investigative journalism you can offer to Make America Smart Again.
2
When you have a medical-condition-faker draft-dodger or a non-combatant stateside AWOL/deserter National Guardsman as President, their sense of guilt and ignorance usually leads to an over-dependence on the Generals...and in this case, Kelly. The U.S. probably has more Generals, including retired Generals, than the rest of the world's put together. BTW...they all live like Kings at taxpayers' direct expense (plus some extra cash and luxury provided indirectly by the taxpayers to many of them via the military industrial complex corporations who often employ retired generals to serve as their lobbyists or on their boards.) Between Trump and these guys there's no doubt in my mind that the Doomsday Clock is as close to midnight as it's been in decades.
1
It is clear that Kelly and many in the Trump base who support putting up the wall and throwing people out are being driven by fear. But as Yoda said "“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering."
If they walk down this path, it will only be to their own destruction. And one also has to question, what exactly is it that they fear. Is it that their Muslim neighbor will blow up their train or that the immigrant boy next door will become a rapist or gangster, or is that they fear a day will come when there are more mosques than churches or that the skin color of this country's population will be a shade browner? Either way their fear will lead them to inflict great suffering on others, and suffer themselves. The only way out is to recognize this path for what it is and choose to love and trust instead of hate and fear.
If they walk down this path, it will only be to their own destruction. And one also has to question, what exactly is it that they fear. Is it that their Muslim neighbor will blow up their train or that the immigrant boy next door will become a rapist or gangster, or is that they fear a day will come when there are more mosques than churches or that the skin color of this country's population will be a shade browner? Either way their fear will lead them to inflict great suffering on others, and suffer themselves. The only way out is to recognize this path for what it is and choose to love and trust instead of hate and fear.
"Low morale?" Funny, I would have thought the newly unleashed police powers for immigration personnel and the exercise of random cruelties by TSA employees would really set up those petty dictators.
The thing that I am afraid of is the stunning lack of ability in the heads of the departments . Although the threat from abroad is real, the threat of home grown extremism is more abundant now than it has been. This I believe , a direct result of having political hacks running departments instead of actual professionals. Drain swamp, replace with cesspool.
1
It's like a return to the 1950s-- then it was the anti-communist rhetoric, fear, justification for repression-- which made even some Republicans (Eisenhower) warn against the military-industrial complex and reject the fear mongering of both parties. At least in the 1950s it wasn't anti-immigrant, but more paranoia that commies were hiding under every rock and embedded in govt (although paranoia is Trump's forte). Now we are blaming the outside world for danger at home, whereas most of our terrorism has been homegrown-- radicalized US citizens, legal residents, and the occasional "American" wackjob that shoots up schools and churches. While we waste money on military defense and homeland security, prescription opiates and heroin are killing 50K Americans every year. That is the enemy we should be fighting.
I get the feeling Kelly, Trump, Sessions et al, are HOPING for an incident as an excuse to grab more civil rights. In the meantime, white disaffected american males (do I really need to list them all?) steadily murder Americans by the scores in churches, school, malls, movie theaters, and it's somehow, tsk-tsk, business as usual, and a call for (yet more) arms.
1
Anytime a high ranking Cabinet officer says that dissenters should "shut up" I'm chilled to the bone.
What's next? "Lock them up"?
What's next? "Lock them up"?
1
I was surprised to learn I was listening to a General in the United Sates Army (?) speaking at George Washington University in DC about the threats we face from terrorist attacks. First his speech itself sounded like the guys who hang out together in a bar on Long Island. None of the educated cadence of statesmen throughout the world or of our own leaders like Barack Obama.
The man may have studied military strategy and tactics, but he falls far short of an educated man who has studied history, philosophy, music, art, all the things that make us civilized human beings.
Second rate, like the man who chose him. Were I just listening to one of those fun shows on TV where I was blindfolded and had to choose a partner by the sound of his voice and his speech. His would never be a choice for me or any other blindfolded listener. I was that blindfolded listener that day, on that day, listening on the car radio and shocked to learn his title. A fool.
The man may have studied military strategy and tactics, but he falls far short of an educated man who has studied history, philosophy, music, art, all the things that make us civilized human beings.
Second rate, like the man who chose him. Were I just listening to one of those fun shows on TV where I was blindfolded and had to choose a partner by the sound of his voice and his speech. His would never be a choice for me or any other blindfolded listener. I was that blindfolded listener that day, on that day, listening on the car radio and shocked to learn his title. A fool.
1
If we've grown complacent because our government has done such a good job keeping us safe, that means Obama did that good job, right? Eight years, no successful attacks by non-home-grown terrorists.
Also: "They despise the United States, because we are a nation of rights, of laws and of freedoms." So we'll be keeping those rights, laws and freedoms instead of curtailing them, right? Because otherwise, who won?
Lastly, if he's looking for greater support, calling the nation ungrateful is not the way to get it.
Also: "They despise the United States, because we are a nation of rights, of laws and of freedoms." So we'll be keeping those rights, laws and freedoms instead of curtailing them, right? Because otherwise, who won?
Lastly, if he's looking for greater support, calling the nation ungrateful is not the way to get it.
If we are just as unsafe as we were at the time of 9/11, what have we been paying billions for? Clearly more of the same is not working. We spent trillions on a "war on drugs" only to wake up after 30 years to discover we had incarcerated millions of our own, destroyed families, increased the suicide rate, shortened life spans, spawned corruption and anarchy from Afghanistan to Guatemala. When will we wake up from our "war on terror" nightmare? And what carnage will we have wrought?
2
Kevin Spacey in House of Cards could not have done it better.
We will look back on the Bush/Cheney government as one of thoughtfulness and moderation.
We will look back on the Bush/Cheney government as one of thoughtfulness and moderation.
"They despise the United States, because we are a nation of rights, of laws and of freedoms." But don't worry, we're working on tearing down those rights, laws and freedoms to make America safe again.
3
I agree we are a nation under attack; under attack by Secretary of Homeland Security, John Kelly, by the attorney general, Jeff Sessions, and by the president of the United States, Don Trump.
The sooner these three stooges are gone, the sooner the nation's threat will be lowered.
The sooner these three stooges are gone, the sooner the nation's threat will be lowered.
2
"The devil made them do it," has long been the fearmongerer's mantra. Replace the devil with: North Korea/Syria/ISIS/Iran/Russia/China and it's easy to get us riled up.
Intentionally lost in this perspective are the real killers: cancer, distracted drivers, opioids, gun availability, etc. Those killers produce the big number, but those killers have lobbyists, money and subsequently Congress in their pocket. We can see those killers, we can predict how they behave and statistically change their deadly outcome. But those killers won't keep Trump and his Republican allies in office the way the devil does, and they know it.
Intentionally lost in this perspective are the real killers: cancer, distracted drivers, opioids, gun availability, etc. Those killers produce the big number, but those killers have lobbyists, money and subsequently Congress in their pocket. We can see those killers, we can predict how they behave and statistically change their deadly outcome. But those killers won't keep Trump and his Republican allies in office the way the devil does, and they know it.
1
I wonder what Mr. Kelly's view is on gun control. How many Americans are killed by each other every week?
1
I do not agree that we are at war against terror. We work against it. But if we are at war, separating mothers and children at the border as a routine tactic is a war crime.
Of course the elephant in the room is not the terrorist, but the millions of 'law abiding' people carrying concealed guns. If you work out the math, the ratio of people killed by guns versus terrorists is about 1000 to 1.
3
And being "very, very afraid" is exactly the state of mind terrorists want us to have, no? And that is why American tourists are among the first tourists to cancel plans to visit Europe whenever there's an attack there.
Until people see other people as fellow human beings, brothers and sisters, hate, vengeance, war, divisiveness, cruelty will persist. It has since time immemorial. But as humankind inches forward, and the world becomes smaller, the barriers are coming down. History shows us this. Agonizingly slow for many. Some people are petrified by what is new. They want the world to stop moving forward. But....it won't ... despite them! So what are we to do? We are called to actively embrace the "other". It is up to ordinary people to extend hands, extend shelter, extend compassion, extend finances, etc. The Kellys and Trumps of mankind always fail. WE, those of us who understand this necessity, must, must, must continue to set an example, ...AND resist these tyrants.
3
To the Editorial Board: Trump gained traction due mainly to his stance on immigration. You aided and abetted Trump with your pro-open borders editorials, because they further discouraged the Democratic Party from reducing legal immigration and enforcing immigration laws. Elizabeth Warren, who I met several weeks ago at Framingham State U, agreed with me on Trump's traction on immigration.
1
It is no surprise that the Trumpies have to gin up more fear. It's the only way that they can distract from their *other* lies and failures.
While it's reasonably acceptable to have a ill-tempered dog guard your property, it's not acceptable to allow it out of the yard to mingle with the general public.
Again, as the military trained mind-set has taught us in the past, these former generals are ill-tempered, limited prospective type people, who outside their bubble are poorly suited to constructive public intercourse.
Fearmongering dressed as patriotism is still fearmongering, which is nothing more than a tool of a repressive, controlling agenda ... It's certainly not a conversation of vying ideas!
The question therefore becomes: How do we get them back into the yard, where they can be muzzled or at least kept better managed.
Given the crew assigned to the task, I'm not encouraged ... Bad pet owners, all!!
Again, as the military trained mind-set has taught us in the past, these former generals are ill-tempered, limited prospective type people, who outside their bubble are poorly suited to constructive public intercourse.
Fearmongering dressed as patriotism is still fearmongering, which is nothing more than a tool of a repressive, controlling agenda ... It's certainly not a conversation of vying ideas!
The question therefore becomes: How do we get them back into the yard, where they can be muzzled or at least kept better managed.
Given the crew assigned to the task, I'm not encouraged ... Bad pet owners, all!!
John Kelly is a military man, limited by a blinkered view which happens, conveniently for him, to coincide with the anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim prejudices and scare-mongering of Trump's campaign. It suits him to look tough to that constituency and not as someone who takes a more balanced perspective. This is an Administration founded on lies which plays on Americans' fears and resentments. What a tragedy for the world that America is no longer the example of openness and tolerance it was, in comparison with other countries. And what a shame that America has become so militarized as a society. May John Kelly, Donald Trump, Jeff Sessions,Steve Bannon, and Steve Miller not succeed in their drive to coarsen and brutalize American society even more at the cost of innocent travelers and immigrants.
“We are in fact a nation under attack.”
Only people who routinely attack us are our own citizens, and usually with guns.
Only people who routinely attack us are our own citizens, and usually with guns.
1
"They despise the United States, because we are a nation of rights, of laws and of freedoms.”
I get it. Secretary Kelly's brilliant strategy is to deprive ISIS and Co. of the reason to despise us. And this from someone who was supposed to be one of Trump's stronger cabinet choices.
I get it. Secretary Kelly's brilliant strategy is to deprive ISIS and Co. of the reason to despise us. And this from someone who was supposed to be one of Trump's stronger cabinet choices.
1
Fear mongering is an old Republican go-to tactic.
I thought it was so incredibly predictable and unsubtle that just before every election during the George W. Bush administration the threat level was elevated.
I thought it was so incredibly predictable and unsubtle that just before every election during the George W. Bush administration the threat level was elevated.
1
Kelly is afraid of shadows, and his disability prevents him from protecting America against a rapidly growing threat.
Domestic terrorist cells are not longer being investigated even though they present a much more likely and immediate threat than foreign terrorists. Oklahoma City bombing, Mahler wildlife refuge takeover, threats and killings of game wardens, and dozens more incidents show that domestic terrorists are the REAL threat. Yet the last group tracking these cells has been reassigned. Would someone please wake Kelly up?
Kelly is clearly pro right wing militia. The Department of Homeland Security is a scam and a liability. The entire Department should be dissolved.
Domestic terrorist cells are not longer being investigated even though they present a much more likely and immediate threat than foreign terrorists. Oklahoma City bombing, Mahler wildlife refuge takeover, threats and killings of game wardens, and dozens more incidents show that domestic terrorists are the REAL threat. Yet the last group tracking these cells has been reassigned. Would someone please wake Kelly up?
Kelly is clearly pro right wing militia. The Department of Homeland Security is a scam and a liability. The entire Department should be dissolved.
3
We have millions of Americans screaming about affordable Healthcare and protesting Congressional offices while the left wing media harps on the subject everyday. Yet what is being accomplished? Nothing!
So how much support and outrage can we expect to see from the public about illegal immigrants and their hardships? Sorry, the sympathy store is closed, try Canada.
So how much support and outrage can we expect to see from the public about illegal immigrants and their hardships? Sorry, the sympathy store is closed, try Canada.
I have come to think that there basically two types of people -- those more authoritarian, controlling and vengeful; and those who are less. These two types of people have generally become "conservative" or "progressive". As much as NYT and its readers are horiified by Kelly's stance on the state of our national security, there are those at Fox and friends who are cheering.
I can't decide whether he is making these comments out of supreme ignorance of reality, or if he is pumping up the so-called threat in order to gain additional funding.
Just a thought as I was reading the article: Since 9/11, after the flights were restarted, has the threat level ever been different than "Orange?" I vaguely remember, even during the era of 5 colors, the threat level was orange, not blue or yellow - never green or red. I suspect red would mean - no flights, green would probably mean "no TSA checks."
While Kelly might have exaggerated the threat level, taking cue from his appointee, has the Homeland Security chief not always been so?
While Kelly might have exaggerated the threat level, taking cue from his appointee, has the Homeland Security chief not always been so?
1
Kelly said the terrorists fear us because we are a "nation of rights, of laws and freedoms..." So now we are going to help them destroy us by dismantling ourselves the rights, laws and freedom the terrorists so feared.
1
You got to sell a war if you want to keep making and buying guns. Well done Mr. Kelly. You're the latest in a long line of spokesmen from the Dulles brothers, through both Bushes, and into Trump's swamp.
1
Whenever anyone in the Trump administration says anything that you might agree with, you underplay that, but when you violently disagree with anything President Trump or his administration does, you go the extreme lengths to undermine it. Can't we have the largest and oldest newspaper in the country occasionally support our leader? What happened to "All the news that is fit to print?"
The notion that a bunch of racial profiling border guards can prevent terrorism is at the heart of the joke that is America's security services. If terrorists were truly stupid enough to show up at customs with an AK-47 and an "I-Heart-Bin Laden" suitcase sticker, the war against terrorism would have ended over a decade ago.
America's best weapon against terrorism is twofold: First, a robust intelligence-gathering network that tracks social networking activity (funny how people always announce their intentions on Facebook, isn't it?) and has the legal power to take action. Second, a respect for all races and religions to demonstrate to would-be terrorists that they have no cause to hate Americans because we don't hate them.
Instead, we rely on jackbooted thugs and racially tainted threats so that everyone can see how truly afraid we really are. Kelly might as well say that the terrorists have won, because he's obviously scared to death of them.
America's best weapon against terrorism is twofold: First, a robust intelligence-gathering network that tracks social networking activity (funny how people always announce their intentions on Facebook, isn't it?) and has the legal power to take action. Second, a respect for all races and religions to demonstrate to would-be terrorists that they have no cause to hate Americans because we don't hate them.
Instead, we rely on jackbooted thugs and racially tainted threats so that everyone can see how truly afraid we really are. Kelly might as well say that the terrorists have won, because he's obviously scared to death of them.
1
If your upset upset by his remarks then your expecting way to much from Donald Trump or any of his appointees. Lower your bar. Most are not capable of doing the job they were elected to or appointed to. I use to say as long as Donald Trump can keep us out of a nuclear war for four years he has met my expectations. With North Korea and Donald Trump squaring off, who know if Trump can keep his finger off the nuc button for four years.
This is either a shameful attempt to create a deadly cycle of self-fulfilling prophecy, since it is in essence a declaration of war against Muslims and Mexicans and people who feel they are under attack, tend to fight back, or a cynical attempt to manipulate and exploit the tendency for right-wingers to fear any potential danger that "others" (in this case, those which are not of European ethnic background, men or at least nominally Christian} might possibly present. Either way, this incendiary, war-mongering rhetoric is 100% guaranteed to make the USA and the world, a much less safe place to live in. We DO need to be afraid...but the danger is being manufactured and enhanced: the ones we need to fear, are those who promote fear, anger, bigotry and hatred to serve their own twisted ends and egos.
I am so tired of this old canard that "they hate us for our freedom". No, they don't. They hate us, alright, but not because of that, and anybody with half a brain knows exactly why. Until we acknowledge and deal with the real reason for their hatred nothing will change.
100
Radical Muslims hate us because of the freedom we afford women. They hate us because of our active embrace of homosexuals. They despise the central role alcohol has in our social life, and they despise that are laws are not from their god, but from largely secular legislators. They hate the permissiveness we engender in our entertainment, and the pornography industry we allow to flourish. Yes, they hate our freedoms, whether you choose to acknowledge it or not. Yes, many hate us because of our wars in the Middle East and our embrace of Israel. Fine. But facts are facts: they hate our values, and the sooner you and your comrades get this into your thick skulls, the sooner we can reach consensus on how to deal with it.
1
As Canadians going on a little vacation to WA and OR next month, it is Americans with their guns and gun laws that are scaring us (e.g., Iowa's latest legislation). Internationalist terrorists? Not so much.
121
This firearm sanctimony of my fellow Canadians is beyond irritating. If US gun laws are so frightening to you then don't go. Drive around the Canadian countryside instead where up to 50% of the houses and pickup trucks you pass have a rifle inside. Or visit Venezuela where the government has seized private guns and given them to its few remaining supporters.
How many people agree that Kelly seems at least slightly psychotic? Or he's doing it on purpose, but I think he's too stupid (outside his military expertise, if any). Smarter people (yes, Trump included) picked him for the qualities exposed in these quotes.
14
85 Americans will die in America today from domestic guns and bullets.
85 Americans more will die tomorrow...and everyday thereafter....from domestic guns and bullets.
Zero Americans will likely die from foreign terrorism.
And nothing but silence from the right-wing on the dead American bodies piling up from domestic guns and bullets.
Thanks for the fear and fake news, Republistan, and thanks for ignoring the real threats to American life...violent Americans and nihilistic right-wingers seeking to deregulate public safety and American life spans.
The Party of Death is working hard to ensure Americans keep dropping dead in front of us and making sure no one notices, no one cares and no one thinks about it.
Nice fake people.
85 Americans more will die tomorrow...and everyday thereafter....from domestic guns and bullets.
Zero Americans will likely die from foreign terrorism.
And nothing but silence from the right-wing on the dead American bodies piling up from domestic guns and bullets.
Thanks for the fear and fake news, Republistan, and thanks for ignoring the real threats to American life...violent Americans and nihilistic right-wingers seeking to deregulate public safety and American life spans.
The Party of Death is working hard to ensure Americans keep dropping dead in front of us and making sure no one notices, no one cares and no one thinks about it.
Nice fake people.
172
Right, Socrates, but it's "every day"; "everyday" has the completely different meaning "ordinary".
6
Tom. You are quite right. But so is Socrates.
Because it is an ordinary -- "everday" -- occurrence for 85 of our fellow citizens to be shot to death every single day. And millions more of our fellow citizens don't give it a second thought, choosing instead to quake in fear of statistically insignificant acts of "Islamic Terrorism." (As they ignore the likes of Dylan Roof and Adam Lanza and Timothy McVeigh, etc.)
Because it is an ordinary -- "everday" -- occurrence for 85 of our fellow citizens to be shot to death every single day. And millions more of our fellow citizens don't give it a second thought, choosing instead to quake in fear of statistically insignificant acts of "Islamic Terrorism." (As they ignore the likes of Dylan Roof and Adam Lanza and Timothy McVeigh, etc.)
7
You left out how many Americans die in traffic accidents every day. I'm scared. Is that the right answer?
1
Sounds like Mr. Kelly is nudging us toward a perpetual lockdown on a national level. The first known usage of word lockdown occurred in the early 1970s. This lockdown mentality growing, and it is significant if you're establishing a police state.
47
Russian style fascism is spreading rapidly amongst Trump's cabinet members, Kelly is another scary and as usual fear mongering and poorly informed member of this dangeround group.
America, Democrats as well as Republicans have to stand up to them quickly and decisively.
With a know nothing, severely insecure,
mentally damaged, revengeful President who can lead us into a new world war.
America, Democrats as well as Republicans have to stand up to them quickly and decisively.
With a know nothing, severely insecure,
mentally damaged, revengeful President who can lead us into a new world war.
50
Donald Trump knows how to parade-our his "generals"s". Secretary of Health and Homeland security, John Kelly seems to be more malleable for Trump, since fear-mongering--as part of Donald's brand of ideology--seems to fit into Security. However, as cited, immigrants are less prone to criminal acts, since they have so much to lose.
Donald Trump's brand of fighting the invisible "Boogieman" would have missed the home-frown terrorists behind the Oklahoma City Bombing, and Sandy Hook Elementary, in Newtoen, Conn. Fear-mongering about terrorists at home is an easier non-existent sales pitch, rather than a warning of dire consequences, an ocean away.
In fact, those two generals who are focused, but invisible, when it comes to National Security--H. R. McMaster and James Mattis, seem to be kept out of the loop. Also, whoever Donald Trump actually is listening to, with regard to running the Military, doesn't seem to understand that, if you wish a Carrier Group, loc ate in Singapore to change orders, and head for Korea, you really do have to communicate other than through TELEPATHY.
Donald, Spicer, from Singapore, the Indian Ocean, wheee the Navy had been ordered to go, is SOUTH. And the Sea of Japan, between Japana nd the Korean Peninsula, is NORTH.
And Donald, if you ever wish to become a Leader, you must start by assuming ALL responsibility, and accept ALL blame for mistakes! Got it?
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
Donald Trump's brand of fighting the invisible "Boogieman" would have missed the home-frown terrorists behind the Oklahoma City Bombing, and Sandy Hook Elementary, in Newtoen, Conn. Fear-mongering about terrorists at home is an easier non-existent sales pitch, rather than a warning of dire consequences, an ocean away.
In fact, those two generals who are focused, but invisible, when it comes to National Security--H. R. McMaster and James Mattis, seem to be kept out of the loop. Also, whoever Donald Trump actually is listening to, with regard to running the Military, doesn't seem to understand that, if you wish a Carrier Group, loc ate in Singapore to change orders, and head for Korea, you really do have to communicate other than through TELEPATHY.
Donald, Spicer, from Singapore, the Indian Ocean, wheee the Navy had been ordered to go, is SOUTH. And the Sea of Japan, between Japana nd the Korean Peninsula, is NORTH.
And Donald, if you ever wish to become a Leader, you must start by assuming ALL responsibility, and accept ALL blame for mistakes! Got it?
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
20
You seem to find myriads of boogeymen on which to spew your ludicrous assumptions, Cheekos,,,When are you going to get down to accusing Ronald McDonald of being racists and anti-immigrant.
If you spent as much time thinking about how to better our body politic as you do on hatred and division, you might just come up with an idea or two that might assist this nation going forward,
However, given the frequent offerings from you that make little sense, I doubt seriously that we will see anything constructive being forwarded under your name.
If you spent as much time thinking about how to better our body politic as you do on hatred and division, you might just come up with an idea or two that might assist this nation going forward,
However, given the frequent offerings from you that make little sense, I doubt seriously that we will see anything constructive being forwarded under your name.
Wait until 45 starts using color-code alerts again as his ratings drop. Fears works. And these boys know it.
20
“We are under attack from terrorism both within and outside of our borders. These men and women are without conscience, and they operate without rules. They despise the United States, because we are a nation of rights, of laws and of freedoms. They have a single mission, and that is our destruction.”
Good Lord, another one! Are there no end to these psychotics. The last time, a few days ago, I heard something, almost word for word, like this, the guy was standing on a box at a busy intersection. People were making a large detour around him like it was a big dog mess in the sidewalk.
In a way, Kelly has it right. But like all psychotics he does not realize that he and Trump's other bootlickers are the ones who are attacking, and whose goal is the destruction of Democracy and its replacement with something like old Hitler was into ginning up for us.
It is all reminiscent of the Blitzkrieg. We better get our act together soon, because these nuts like the nuts before them are not kidding.
Good Lord, another one! Are there no end to these psychotics. The last time, a few days ago, I heard something, almost word for word, like this, the guy was standing on a box at a busy intersection. People were making a large detour around him like it was a big dog mess in the sidewalk.
In a way, Kelly has it right. But like all psychotics he does not realize that he and Trump's other bootlickers are the ones who are attacking, and whose goal is the destruction of Democracy and its replacement with something like old Hitler was into ginning up for us.
It is all reminiscent of the Blitzkrieg. We better get our act together soon, because these nuts like the nuts before them are not kidding.
42
A little over-dramatic with your analogy to the Blitzkrieg, Mr. Carney.
The only tanks and airplanes I see are the SUVs being driven by lock-jaw liberals and the private jets flying into our small, local airports.
The only tanks and airplanes I see are the SUVs being driven by lock-jaw liberals and the private jets flying into our small, local airports.
Don't forget that the Trump presidency is a business venture.
There’s a reason for Trump & Company’s dangerous fear mongering----------MONEY. Increased fear leads to increased spending on security which leads to fatter bank accounts for Trump’s various billionaire friends who hold government contracts.
All of this, in turn, leads to more money for Trump and his family since “I scratch your back and you scratch mine.”
There’s a reason for Trump & Company’s dangerous fear mongering----------MONEY. Increased fear leads to increased spending on security which leads to fatter bank accounts for Trump’s various billionaire friends who hold government contracts.
All of this, in turn, leads to more money for Trump and his family since “I scratch your back and you scratch mine.”
28
I recently returned from Khatmandu via Abu Dhabi to Chicago. My baggage was screened at least three times in the process. Then in OHare a whole load of passengers on a 777 had to wait an hour and a half to get its baggage screened again by security (not customs).
I don't know what this extreme vetting is supposed to accomplish besides increasing anxiety about traveling. I am clueless, especially on the Ohare screening, how this improves national security.
I think it is ironic that the same people who complain about federal overeach support tactics like this.
I don't know what this extreme vetting is supposed to accomplish besides increasing anxiety about traveling. I am clueless, especially on the Ohare screening, how this improves national security.
I think it is ironic that the same people who complain about federal overeach support tactics like this.
39
We spend far too much on security screening and body-guarding in this nation, from the presidential cavalcades of a dozen or more vehicles to the excessive personal and baggage screenings at our transportation centers and office towers.
But let a nut take a weapon an murder innocents at a movie theater or on a subway concourse, and the chatter from both left and right turns into a deafening din...
And, of course our elected and appointed officials see political opportunity and impose even more intrusive and burdensome laws and regulations that do nothing to stop these sad, sick incidents from occurring.
Time for us to begin thinking that life, itself, is a risky business, and we have in place systems and institutions for dealing with the curves that we are thrown.
But let a nut take a weapon an murder innocents at a movie theater or on a subway concourse, and the chatter from both left and right turns into a deafening din...
And, of course our elected and appointed officials see political opportunity and impose even more intrusive and burdensome laws and regulations that do nothing to stop these sad, sick incidents from occurring.
Time for us to begin thinking that life, itself, is a risky business, and we have in place systems and institutions for dealing with the curves that we are thrown.
1
It is only ironic if you expect logical consistency from leadership. This quote from Through the Looking Glass summarizes the present regime's thinking rather nicely:
"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean - neither more nor less."
"The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many different things."
"The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master - that's all."
"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean - neither more nor less."
"The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many different things."
"The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master - that's all."
Kathmandu.
If it's fear you want, the United States has long been, and remains, by far the scariest force in the world.
24
What an odd claim...
Aren’t we supposed to be living in the land of the free and home of the brave? Kelly is suggesting we are / should be living in the land of the restrained and home of the timid. Perhaps he should be reminded what FDR said 75 years ago about fear.
39
Mr Kelly certainly speaks with authority and bravado. Yet he has no tech, law enforcement or intelligence experience, all areas vital to the functioning of his department. Let's hope he has or is able to obtain at least some knowledge and competence in these fields. Otherwise, it may be a very bumpy ride for all of us.
15
"The main takeaways from Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly’s first extensive remarks about how he intends to lead a vast bureaucracy on the front lines of immigration enforcement, passenger screening and cybersecurity" described in this editorial are being offered within the first 100 days of the Trump Administration.
Just imagine what his remarks are going to be four years from now.
Just imagine what his remarks are going to be four years from now.
6
The fear that Mr. Kelly seems intent on breeding in our country, separating people on the basis of their color and religious creed, will ultimately do nothing but separate us from our national security. When we welcome the Muslim population into our country, we not only act on our country's most fundamental principals of welcoming the stranger, but we bring to our side our greatest weapon in recognizing and uprooting the religious extremists in our midst. We want Muslims to be our friends, to feel welcome here. We want them to succeed here. We must not treat them as our enemies, lest they will be less inclined to help us understand and extricate the religious extremists in our midst who have hijacked their name.
More and more, we hear the hostile rumblings of 1930’s Europe echoing throughout the Trump administration.
As part of a “big lie” strategy, any plan for making America great again would include mentally arming neighborhoods and countries to prepare for armed conflict against one another.
If not outright military clashes, then sectarian violence?
Every social and cultural and religious group should conduct history classes on life in the 1930’s.
After the great depression.
Here and abroad.
As part of a “big lie” strategy, any plan for making America great again would include mentally arming neighborhoods and countries to prepare for armed conflict against one another.
If not outright military clashes, then sectarian violence?
Every social and cultural and religious group should conduct history classes on life in the 1930’s.
After the great depression.
Here and abroad.
18
Perhaps explaining why the catchy phrase, 'America First' fell out of favor the first time around.....
"They despise the United States, because we are a nation of rights, of laws and of freedoms."
Mr. Kelly would be wise to eschew policies that sacrifice those precious rights, laws and freedoms. Hyperbole, bullying and coarse language do not keep anybody safe. They only erode those precious qualities and feed the enemies.
He Would be wise, but he Won't be.
Mr. Kelly would be wise to eschew policies that sacrifice those precious rights, laws and freedoms. Hyperbole, bullying and coarse language do not keep anybody safe. They only erode those precious qualities and feed the enemies.
He Would be wise, but he Won't be.
18
It should be abundantly clear by now that the relevant question about this Administration is not if, in some quasi-theological sense, it's 'fascist', but rather, what form 21st century fascism will take. The answer is becoming more clear with every passing day. The world is increasingly polarized into 'us' (white folks) and 'them'. Everyone else.
Hope that the US constitutional forms can contain anything chance throws at them look increasingly shopworn. A startling earlier manifestation of this was the internment of Japanese-Americans in WW2. Not, you'll note, German-, Italian- or other. And under a Democratic, not Republican, administration.
Yet still the wrong questions are being asked. More attention is paid to the fifth-or-later decimal point influence of Russia on the elections, and none on the arguably determinative influence of FBI director Comey. His is the truly startling - and constitutionally corrosive - action. Meantime, day by day, department by department, at federal, state and local levels, the progress in civil and other rights (to drinkable water, breathable air, decent schooling for instance) is being ruthlessly rolled back. To whose benefit? None of the '99%'s'
Meantime, cower and shiver. We'll look after you if you do so - and also, in a rather different sense, if you don't. The compliant have little (but not nothing) to fear. Ask no questions, and I'll still tell you lies.For your own good.
Hope that the US constitutional forms can contain anything chance throws at them look increasingly shopworn. A startling earlier manifestation of this was the internment of Japanese-Americans in WW2. Not, you'll note, German-, Italian- or other. And under a Democratic, not Republican, administration.
Yet still the wrong questions are being asked. More attention is paid to the fifth-or-later decimal point influence of Russia on the elections, and none on the arguably determinative influence of FBI director Comey. His is the truly startling - and constitutionally corrosive - action. Meantime, day by day, department by department, at federal, state and local levels, the progress in civil and other rights (to drinkable water, breathable air, decent schooling for instance) is being ruthlessly rolled back. To whose benefit? None of the '99%'s'
Meantime, cower and shiver. We'll look after you if you do so - and also, in a rather different sense, if you don't. The compliant have little (but not nothing) to fear. Ask no questions, and I'll still tell you lies.For your own good.
13
General Kelly was the wrong selection for the job. His predecessors had a strength and temperate disposition that he seems not possess. Apparently Trump selects clones of himself. We now have government by fear mongering by hollow men.
24
Anyone who thinks President Trump has made a good appointment just has waited long enough. Each is revealing himself or herself to be whom the boss wants. The aggregate affect is chilling, not only for our behavior, but for our basic freedoms, as well, and for human dignity for all.
21
It sounds like it was written as a screenplay for a Hollywood Blockbuster to be delivered by the tyrant which our hero must fight to restore American values and freedoms.
13
I realize that Muslims do not have one main spiritual leader like a pope, and that they have largely divided themselves into 2 main groups - the Shia and the Sunni, but it is hard to understand why they do not condemn the terrorism being done in the name of Islam.
After Muslims murdered the cartoonists and writers at the French satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, Muslims around the world held mass protests against the magazine for its caricatures of Mohammed. Why did they not also protest the murders?
British Muslims were interviewed for a BBC poll to learn what they thought of the Charlie Hebdo murders. 24% said the attacks were justified.
I would feel more comfortable with the Muslims, if their religious, educational, and political leaders would lead their community in condemning Al Qaeda, ISIS, and other groups who commit terror in the name of their religion. If they can inspire and/ or lead mass protests across the world against a magazine that drew cartoons of Mohammed, then they can surely do the same to stop the association of their religion with terrorism.
After Muslims murdered the cartoonists and writers at the French satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, Muslims around the world held mass protests against the magazine for its caricatures of Mohammed. Why did they not also protest the murders?
British Muslims were interviewed for a BBC poll to learn what they thought of the Charlie Hebdo murders. 24% said the attacks were justified.
I would feel more comfortable with the Muslims, if their religious, educational, and political leaders would lead their community in condemning Al Qaeda, ISIS, and other groups who commit terror in the name of their religion. If they can inspire and/ or lead mass protests across the world against a magazine that drew cartoons of Mohammed, then they can surely do the same to stop the association of their religion with terrorism.
i understood that the purpose of the Homeland Security department was to protect us, not to scare us.
17
Homeland Security motto: If we haven't sufficiently scared the populace we haven't been doing our job.
It's a standing tribute to the provincial depth of our xenophobia that we are so much more frightened by the prospect of being killed by a foreign terrorist (very, very unlikely) than we are of being killed by an armed and "patriotic" fellow American (considerably more likely). Ergo, gun control at home remains beyond the realm of our rational contemplation.
24
"We are so much more frightened by the prospect of being killed by a foreign terrorist (very, very unlikely) than we are of being killed by an armed and "patriotic" fellow American (considerably more likely)."
Very true, Jay Reedy. And, for that matter, by a schizophrenic off his meds, who gets an urge on a subway platform to give a little push to a total stranger. Or by moronic drug dealers who can't shoot straight.
On the other hand, I was acquainted with four people who lost their lives on September 11.
On a day-to-day basis, I go more in fear of bringing bedbugs from the subway into my house than of being murdered. As far as human pests are concerned, I often feel that I could kill them myself with my bare hands, despite my age.
Very true, Jay Reedy. And, for that matter, by a schizophrenic off his meds, who gets an urge on a subway platform to give a little push to a total stranger. Or by moronic drug dealers who can't shoot straight.
On the other hand, I was acquainted with four people who lost their lives on September 11.
On a day-to-day basis, I go more in fear of bringing bedbugs from the subway into my house than of being murdered. As far as human pests are concerned, I often feel that I could kill them myself with my bare hands, despite my age.
George Orwell would be right at home with the term "Homeland Security". It evokes the dystopian world he predicted in his seminal book 1984. The picture every traveler has these days is the uniformed, brusque government functionary treating all of us as potential enemies of the state. Mr. Kelly's very military like admonitions reinforces this picture. Don't get me wrong, I understand the unfortunate need for security these days. It's just depressing to see the "future" become the present.
12
What these "leaders" fail to understand is that fear is an unsustainable emotional state. Fear always changes to something else. Hatred is typical. And hatred is an emotional state that can people can sustain for a very long time.
Both hatred and fear come with a very high cost.
It's fundamental to human nature (and all nature) that aggressive actions create one of two potential responses:
- capitulation, or
- retaliation
I guess the lesson here is the lesson of the barking dog. A barking dog may be loud and some may fear it, but nobody respects it -- they just want to shut it up. However, the dog who lays quietly on the porch, and raises it's head to watch you as you walk past... that dog is respected.
Instead of cultivating fear and aggression, imagine if our homeland security leader instead portrayed a demeanor of watchfulness, discipline and confidence. Imagine if, instead of castigating the very people his department is tasked to protect, he spoke instead in tones that were thoughtful and measured; tones that indicated we were prepared but not afraid. Imagine if he had simply reminded us to maintain awareness and live good lives.
Both hatred and fear come with a very high cost.
It's fundamental to human nature (and all nature) that aggressive actions create one of two potential responses:
- capitulation, or
- retaliation
I guess the lesson here is the lesson of the barking dog. A barking dog may be loud and some may fear it, but nobody respects it -- they just want to shut it up. However, the dog who lays quietly on the porch, and raises it's head to watch you as you walk past... that dog is respected.
Instead of cultivating fear and aggression, imagine if our homeland security leader instead portrayed a demeanor of watchfulness, discipline and confidence. Imagine if, instead of castigating the very people his department is tasked to protect, he spoke instead in tones that were thoughtful and measured; tones that indicated we were prepared but not afraid. Imagine if he had simply reminded us to maintain awareness and live good lives.
15
Mr. Kelly is pushing a self-fulfilling prophecy here. There is nothing that 45's administration would welcome more than a terrorist attack within American borders with Muslim and/or illegal immigrant perpetrators. 45 needs an event like this that he and Kelly can hype and the media can play their role of going after the shiny object. This administration desperately needs a disaster or a war big enough to distract from and hopefully stop the Russia investigation. To that end, loyal 45ers like Kelly are doing their best to create that shiny object to distract and disrupt from the real evil thing that is sitting like the elephant in the room just waiting to be investigated. Some in the press and Congress are getting closer and closer to the truth about Trump/Russia collusion. Watch for the all-out push for the all-out distraction from finding this truth.
17
The time is long past to call an end to the War on Terror which, actually, stands as a war of terror. The West has inflicted unspeakable cruelty in other nations and then it rails against resistance It has, as a political entity, declared war on a religion that it's billions of adherents practise peacefully with a handful of disenfranchised criminal types using it as an expedience to wage personal wars in response. Individuals are killed, but the lives of individuals are worthless in relation to the capital it generates that feeds the veneration and continuation of further conflict. Trump issues abortive travel bans as a menas of stemming agents of terror from entering the US, and then defies international law by cruise bombing Syria. Who is the criminal or terrorist here?
Fear, especially irrational, officially generated fear, is a powerful stimulus to those who prosper from the mantra that war is peace. Our task as western democracies is largely philosophical: we need to end our own burgeoning tyrannies that the liberty of democracy allows to proliferate as politics.
Nothing is original about Trump: he's rehashing the Bush era Axis of Evil tack that allowed for a clown to become a killer with the sanction of the people. Western tyrants emulate and supported him, and continue to emulate and support each other against the interests of global equanimity. Evil, it is said, prospers when good people do nothing.
Fear, especially irrational, officially generated fear, is a powerful stimulus to those who prosper from the mantra that war is peace. Our task as western democracies is largely philosophical: we need to end our own burgeoning tyrannies that the liberty of democracy allows to proliferate as politics.
Nothing is original about Trump: he's rehashing the Bush era Axis of Evil tack that allowed for a clown to become a killer with the sanction of the people. Western tyrants emulate and supported him, and continue to emulate and support each other against the interests of global equanimity. Evil, it is said, prospers when good people do nothing.
7
Mr. Kelly did not mention that Geo Corporation runs the deportation program and its prisons, at enormous expense to taxpayers. Geo stock doubled after Trump was elected. This is just more big government and big business.
13
What if 1000 Americans had died last year in terrorism attacks within our borders?
Each day, on average, 3 women will be murdered by their husbands, boyfriends or exes, roughly 1000 per year.
We don't need a Dept. of Homeland Security. We need a Department of HOME Security and we need to do some serious introspection about what is wrong with US (not some religious fanatics on the other side of the planet) that we are killing the mothers of our children.
Each day, on average, 3 women will be murdered by their husbands, boyfriends or exes, roughly 1000 per year.
We don't need a Dept. of Homeland Security. We need a Department of HOME Security and we need to do some serious introspection about what is wrong with US (not some religious fanatics on the other side of the planet) that we are killing the mothers of our children.
"They despise the United States, because we are a nation of rights, of laws and of freedoms."
So...guess we have to change all that. And Kelly leads the charge...
So...guess we have to change all that. And Kelly leads the charge...
6
This is what happens when you put Generals in charge. They have spent their adult life in an institution whose structure is the opposite of freedom and democracy. The military relies on fear, anger, hate, threats, violence and demagogues to force the troops to follow orders and sacrifice their lives to defeat an enemy. There is no dissent and all rules/orders must be followed to the letter. How else could Kelly run Homeland Security? The very military that keeps us "safe" does not translate well to preserving civil rights and democracy. The legacy of this Administration is a tragedy for our country.
7
Kelly needs a military to human language translator to speak for him.
Part of the job of keeping Americans safe is keeping them free from stifling fear.
Part of the job of keeping Americans safe is keeping them free from stifling fear.
3
We have a clear choice between what Sec. Kelly espouses, and what the Times Editorial which warns against allowing fear to do away with our Democratic way of life.I find myself somewhat in the middle of this controversy.I wish to hold onto our freedoms , but at the same time be made aware there are murderous elements in our nation that mean to do us harm.It’s much like an impending hurricane that causes us to stock up on provisions.We must remain on our guard & be an extension to our law enforcement, but at the same time stay within the law..We can’t allow extremism to rule our way of life, that would be a victory for our enemies.
1
“These men and women are without conscience, and they operate without rules. They despise the United States, because we are a nation of rights, of laws and of freedoms. They have a single mission, and that is our destruction.”
At first I thought he was referring to the GOP - Guardians Of Putin... maybe he is.....
At first I thought he was referring to the GOP - Guardians Of Putin... maybe he is.....
4
When Kelly said Congress should change immigration laws if they don’t want immigration laws enforced, he was referring to the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act, which President Bill Clinton signed into law in 1996. This act, which passed with board bipartisan support in both houses, calls for the deportation of foreign nationals unlawfully present in the United States. The “Take Care” clause of the Constitution task president to "take care that the laws be faithfully executed.” If the New York Times’ editorial board thinks federal agencies should enforce only laws the New York Times approves of, its editorial board should have the courage to say so.
1
When do the daily "hate" broadcasts commence? Orwell would be dismayed.
5
Whenever the GWB White House had some particular embarassment they wanted to deep-six, they responded by changing to a more threatening color the ludicrous 5-color code that was supposed to tell us how afraid to be on that day. Stoking the fears of a nation for personal or political advantage is beyond cynical. It is despicable, and it reveals the character, or indisputable lack thereof, of those who would employ this centerpiece of political propaganda against their own people.
2
Keep your mind open and beware those who want to scare you into giving up your rights.
5
“The United States spends over $87 billion conducting a war in Iraq while the United Nations estimates that for less than half that amount we could provide clean water, adequate diets, sanitations services and basic education to every person on the planet. And we wonder why terrorists attack us.”
~ John Perkins, "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man"
~ John Perkins, "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man"
9
Now comes the attempt to get Americans to give up their liberties so they can be 100% safe. As has been said before, we'll never be 100% safe, nor would people want to live in such a "fortress" of a country.
Can't say I'd expect better from this failed administration.
Can't say I'd expect better from this failed administration.
6
Sadly, many people do want to live in such a fortress. As long as the only groups whose rights are taken away are those groups they don't like.
1
Mr. Kelly, the real threat to Americans are the GOP congress and Trump trying to take healthcare away from the people, and their complete refusal to consent to reasonable firearm regulations nationwide. The mentally ill need firearms? I believe the people of Sandy Hook, Aurora Co, and San Bernardino CA, amongst millions more in America would disagree. And what about our infrastructure that will not need bombs to collapse in upon itself, because they are in such deplorable condition?
6
9-11 happened in 2001: radical Muslims have long had their "cause." Other than conversion to Islam, their is nothing the people of western nations can do to satisfy Al Qaeda and ISIS. The NY Times seems to try to make its argument both ways. The idea that cracking down on opportunities for terrorism will breed more terrorists is lame. Terrorists are already irrational haters, their groups attracting troubled people who are troubled so often after, and in spite of, their families being granted safe haven in the west. Concurrently, the Times seems to opine that things are not really so bad as to justify tough talk.
Having said that, abusive behavior to immigrants is inexcusable, and deporting Hopefulls, like the recent case of the 23 year old brought here at age nine, in awful behavior by authorites who should know better. This behavior breeds disrespect for the government and weakens the case John Kelly is trying to make.
By the way, I favor creating a path to legal residency, then citizenship, for illegal immigrants who have no other criminal record. This would require compromise between the hard left and hard right--less and less common in the age of the many obstructionists in both parties, and the concern of the average politician for re-election at all costs.
Having said that, abusive behavior to immigrants is inexcusable, and deporting Hopefulls, like the recent case of the 23 year old brought here at age nine, in awful behavior by authorites who should know better. This behavior breeds disrespect for the government and weakens the case John Kelly is trying to make.
By the way, I favor creating a path to legal residency, then citizenship, for illegal immigrants who have no other criminal record. This would require compromise between the hard left and hard right--less and less common in the age of the many obstructionists in both parties, and the concern of the average politician for re-election at all costs.
That's their job, and that's their self-interest. The more terrorists there are, the more there is for them to do, and the bigger their budget.
No government agency has ever said that their mission is completed, and they can be dissolved.
No government agency has ever said that their mission is completed, and they can be dissolved.
7
Kelly said, “As I speak these words the FBI has open terrorism investigations in all 50 states, and since 2013, there have been 37 ISIS-linked plots to attack our country.” The Department of Homeland Security provides a graphic that shows the location of the 37 ISDIS-linked plots at https://homeland.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/AprilTerrorThreatS...
1
How many gun deaths are there in the US everyday--at least hundreds. Many of these swept under the rug. The US doesn't have to worry about outside boogeymen--they have enough within their own borders who are not terrorists.
But hey, don't be afraid of our "everyday terrorists" -- you know, the friends neighbors, and spouses who own the millions of guns across our country which account for many thousands of killings and suicides each year of fellow American by other fellow Americans.
54
Not to mention so-called "air marshals" who leave loaded weapons in airplane bathrooms, as one did recently on a Delta flight from Manchester England to New York's JFK. The more serious threat to me is likely not death by terrorist attack but death by heart attack if I walked into an airplane bathroom and saw a gun on the counter -- I am not one of the milllions of Americans with a house full of guns and have no idea how to handle one.
And by the way, what good is an "air marshal," gun toting or not, when the current "threat" is apparently bombs concealed in laptops and other electronic devices?
And by the way, what good is an "air marshal," gun toting or not, when the current "threat" is apparently bombs concealed in laptops and other electronic devices?
Trump the draft dodger has surrounded himself with Generals incl 2 Marine Generals.
I know the military as a former member and widow of an officer. Marines are different from every other branch. They have ONE function--to kill as ordered.
There is no such thing as “Intelligence” as the US Army, USAF, and US Navy have. They don’t even have medical personnel! The US Navy provides MDs, nurses, and corpsmen to work alongside Marines.
Bootcamp for Marines is unlike any other branch. Each recruit is broken completely, then “rebuilt” to ONLY follow orders. As a civilian MD I’ve had to go toe to toe with Marine commandants as to WHY Marines in TRAINING can NOT run in 110 degree heat, 90% humidity with 70# backpacks and 18# M249s. It doesn’t “toughen them up” it only kills them with heat stroke!
John Kelly was head of Southern Command--Latin America and South America so he is tough on borders which is WHY Trump chose him!
Kelly’s “beliefs”
1) detainees released from Guantanamo Bay: “If they go back to the fight, we’ll probably kill them. So that’s a good thing.”
2) Women do NOT “belong” in the Corps. He retired rather than allow women into combat roles even though it was ordered!
3) Any American who is anti-war is anti-troops--these “so-called Americans” are traitors.
4) Wanted a much stronger border.
Trump LOVES this toughness! Trump wants Marine generals so now we have Kelly and Marine General Jim “Chaos” Mattis as SecDef.
North Korea’s military dictatorship is us!
I know the military as a former member and widow of an officer. Marines are different from every other branch. They have ONE function--to kill as ordered.
There is no such thing as “Intelligence” as the US Army, USAF, and US Navy have. They don’t even have medical personnel! The US Navy provides MDs, nurses, and corpsmen to work alongside Marines.
Bootcamp for Marines is unlike any other branch. Each recruit is broken completely, then “rebuilt” to ONLY follow orders. As a civilian MD I’ve had to go toe to toe with Marine commandants as to WHY Marines in TRAINING can NOT run in 110 degree heat, 90% humidity with 70# backpacks and 18# M249s. It doesn’t “toughen them up” it only kills them with heat stroke!
John Kelly was head of Southern Command--Latin America and South America so he is tough on borders which is WHY Trump chose him!
Kelly’s “beliefs”
1) detainees released from Guantanamo Bay: “If they go back to the fight, we’ll probably kill them. So that’s a good thing.”
2) Women do NOT “belong” in the Corps. He retired rather than allow women into combat roles even though it was ordered!
3) Any American who is anti-war is anti-troops--these “so-called Americans” are traitors.
4) Wanted a much stronger border.
Trump LOVES this toughness! Trump wants Marine generals so now we have Kelly and Marine General Jim “Chaos” Mattis as SecDef.
North Korea’s military dictatorship is us!
37
Finally, well said indeed.
5
Yes, wonder why it is that all the draft dodger Presidents love the toughness. Must make them feel more manly!
Which is it Mr. Kelly? Has Homeland Security been doing a good job (it has), or not good enough because we don't wear our fears and bloodlust on our sleeves like our foes do?
I don't get why these guys think running around with your blood up and our chests puffed out projects strength. It's as sure a sign of fear and weakness as there is.
I don't get why these guys think running around with your blood up and our chests puffed out projects strength. It's as sure a sign of fear and weakness as there is.
'Compliance' is the new watchword. Comply or else.
13
Compliant & complicit. You will be both. The TPP trump putin pence cabal decrees
Let's be honest. The greatest fear we all have (or should have) is Kelly and the administration of which he is a part. The fear they manufacture is totally self-serving.
16
Trump's administration:
"Be afraid, be very afraid. They hate us because we are a nation of laws. Now, be afraid, so scared in fact that you don't notice we're busy dismantling the Bill of Rights over here."
"Be afraid, be very afraid. They hate us because we are a nation of laws. Now, be afraid, so scared in fact that you don't notice we're busy dismantling the Bill of Rights over here."
278
Astrochimp, Muslims agree with some of our Rights such as our freedom of religion and our freedom of assembly, but many Muslims disagree with our freedom of speech. They do not want their religion questioned or criticized in any way. Muslims living in European countries have killed writers, cartoonists, politicians, and others who have dared to exercise their right to free speech.
Why doesn’t the Muslim community worldwide (or even the Muslim community in the United States) come out with a statement that it respects everyone’s stance on religion and is willing to hear criticism of its own religion. It may not to listen to any criticisms, but it needs to clearly say that it will not stop people from making them.
Instead of accepting the entire Bill of Rights, Muslims are choosing to support only the ones that benefit the current ways that Islam is practiced. Many Muslims do not agree with our freedom of speech.
Why doesn’t the Muslim community worldwide (or even the Muslim community in the United States) come out with a statement that it respects everyone’s stance on religion and is willing to hear criticism of its own religion. It may not to listen to any criticisms, but it needs to clearly say that it will not stop people from making them.
Instead of accepting the entire Bill of Rights, Muslims are choosing to support only the ones that benefit the current ways that Islam is practiced. Many Muslims do not agree with our freedom of speech.
"Nation of Laws" except for trump and family.
"And while you're being afraid, keep on fist pumping and chanting 'U-S-A' at every opportunity."
This is just another tool in Trump's bloated group of people; whose apparent agenda is fear mongering (in their own words, I think).
It all goes back to what I have said all along: Adding to an already huge group of City police, State police, ATF, FBI, CIA, NSA, Border Patrol, ICE, Secret Service, ad infinitum.
I haven't even mentioned the nation's military; a military which he wants to add 10% to their already tremendous budget. A budget which is already well into trillions of dollars. Why? Simply because of fear-mongering.
Of this extra 10%, all (or even a small portion) of it could be used to help the people in our country who REALLY need it. People with families who have no health insurance, feeding our poor and the largest problem in our country today:
Addiction to opiates. This is killing more people than deaths attributed to alcohol-involved auto accidents and smoking related deaths COMBINED.
This is truly shameful.
It all goes back to what I have said all along: Adding to an already huge group of City police, State police, ATF, FBI, CIA, NSA, Border Patrol, ICE, Secret Service, ad infinitum.
I haven't even mentioned the nation's military; a military which he wants to add 10% to their already tremendous budget. A budget which is already well into trillions of dollars. Why? Simply because of fear-mongering.
Of this extra 10%, all (or even a small portion) of it could be used to help the people in our country who REALLY need it. People with families who have no health insurance, feeding our poor and the largest problem in our country today:
Addiction to opiates. This is killing more people than deaths attributed to alcohol-involved auto accidents and smoking related deaths COMBINED.
This is truly shameful.
16
We are more "under attack" by individuals who own some of the 300 million handguns in this country who are allowed to possess battlefield weapons purportedly for home defense. Thousands of Americans die each year because of a lack of reasonable gun control.
Kelly should be ashamed of himself. I thought better of him.
Kelly should be ashamed of himself. I thought better of him.
32
Kelly is wrong. People aren't trying to hurt us because of our ideals. They are much more concerned that we've been attacking their countries and overthrowing their governments. Odd, how that can turn people against you.
11
Why do you not put the word "illegal" in front of the word "immigrant" which is exactly what Secretary Kelly is referring to..its nice to see Government officals speak up and tell the truth.
3
The one truth I find in Kelly's remarks is that Congress ought to challenge the White House's abhorrent immigration and deportation policies. On the large-scale of denying refugees from the Middle East and of deporting noncitizens from Mexico, Central America, and South America, regardless of character, the potential for establishing a caucasian America is becoming apparent, stamping out diversity and abandoning due process. With more border agents without supervision impending, congress needs to respond to the wake-up call from the majority of its constituents. To leave that undone, it would be colluding in this corruption of American life.
and your point is ?
"These men and women are without conscience, and they operate without rules...They have a single mission, and that is our destruction.”
Ummm, I think you are mistaking terrorists for your own [Trump] administration. Oh, and also the Republican-controlled Congress.
Ummm, I think you are mistaking terrorists for your own [Trump] administration. Oh, and also the Republican-controlled Congress.
Kelly is Party to Trump's main plan to justify great increase in ICE activities that can operate without due process. It is a Putinesque police state that is to be feared, not immigrants, legal or illegal.
16
Mr. Kelly should also acknowledge that we are under attack not only by people who "despise the United States, because we are a nation of rights, of laws and of freedoms," but also because the United States is a fomenter of global war in its own right. Never mind that an errant missile or drone strike kills innocent Muslims; never mind that we sell almost $60 billion dollars worth of armaments to our "friends and allies," with apparently little regard as to the hands in which they ultimately land. Kelly must think that second and third world countries are ignorant about what is happening to them and who the key players are in those happenings. No wonder they want to enter the United States and try to wreak havoc.
13
Our school secretary wanted to know the best way to announce a dangerous situation, perhaps a Code Red. One suggestion was to get on the loudspeaker and call out: "Oh my God, we're all going to DIE!"
Sound familiar? Unfortunately it's the way of many politicians. Alas, when the public believes such blather the next thing you know is that we'll be at war with a phantom enemy . . . like Iraq . . . or Afghanistan . . . or Syria . . . or ???
Sound familiar? Unfortunately it's the way of many politicians. Alas, when the public believes such blather the next thing you know is that we'll be at war with a phantom enemy . . . like Iraq . . . or Afghanistan . . . or Syria . . . or ???
8
Appalling that the Trump administration has unleashed an entire regime of fear mongering, racist, anti-environment, anti-truth and, yes, anti-American oligarchs and thugs to head executive branch departments. No good whatsoever can come from this - only further deterioration into xenophobia, division and loss of influence around the world. Insidious treason.
14
I'm far more afraid of our so-called president and much of his administration than I am of immigrants—and terrorists.
I'm afraid of the under-current of hate and fear that has permeated into the very fabric of our nation and is reinforced daily by messages from and actions by the current part-time occupant of White House.
I'm afraid that Congress is comprised of greedy, blind toadies who don't have the courage to say: It's time to begin the process of impeachment.
I'm afraid that some of those who voted for Trump haven't yet considered the possibility that they may have made a mistake. Like the followers of Jim Jones or Charles Manson, they have put their faith in a narcissistic egomaniac who is relentless in goading their baser instincts.
I'm afraid that those many, many, many people from other countries with whom we share this planet will come to believe that all Americans agree with the so-called president and support his actions.
I remember reading On the Beach as a teen-ager and being afraid . . . .
I'm afraid of the under-current of hate and fear that has permeated into the very fabric of our nation and is reinforced daily by messages from and actions by the current part-time occupant of White House.
I'm afraid that Congress is comprised of greedy, blind toadies who don't have the courage to say: It's time to begin the process of impeachment.
I'm afraid that some of those who voted for Trump haven't yet considered the possibility that they may have made a mistake. Like the followers of Jim Jones or Charles Manson, they have put their faith in a narcissistic egomaniac who is relentless in goading their baser instincts.
I'm afraid that those many, many, many people from other countries with whom we share this planet will come to believe that all Americans agree with the so-called president and support his actions.
I remember reading On the Beach as a teen-ager and being afraid . . . .
14
I think that the NY Times article has rushed to judgment about Kelly's observation. Perhaps he is talking about interstellar aliens, and has specific but secret information.
11
National security is the trump card of the GOP, and will be prominently featured in future elections. There is nothing like an on-edge populace to stoke support for the current administration. Just ask Carl Rove, who advised George W. during his second presidential campaign to focus on national security, while painting Kerry as all but a coward. Worked like a charm.
11
Yes, we are under attack from foreign invaders who want to pick our vegetables and clean our hotel rooms because they pose a threat. At airports we must continue to single out elderly passengers to pat down and inconvenience as they move through the screening areas because the elderly pose a threat. Reporters must be roped off and denied access to politicians because they pose a threat. Whistle blowers must be accused of a crime because they pose a threat. The real threat to national security is a Representative who supports the current administration (yes, McConnell and Ryan I am talking about you).
328
"Jar Head Marine" A USMC legend says that all those entering the Marines have their brains removed and put in a jar and stored on a shelf. Upon leaving the Corps, the brain is returned. It's possible that John Kelly forgot to get his brain back when he retired, or, being a General, he simply didn't think he needed it anymore. Under the current circumstances, perhaps he should ask the Marine Corps if they could find it and forward it to him with all due haste. (If there are any spares laying around, perhaps they could send one to the President also.)
In the end we have far more to fear from Mr. Kelly and his boss than from ISIS.
14
This fear mongering by one of Trump's minions started with Trump himself. A lot of low-information voters bought into his line that we were in danger on many fronts and only he could save us. What a farce. Trump can't extricate himself from a paper bag.
11
That's what you get, putting a military man in charge of a civilian agency. To unquestioningly protect, and expand, their turf the lazy option is to sell fear. And fear sells especially well in America!
8
You're laying blame on Homeland Security? The world is terrified by a terrorist gang who uses lies, religion, hostage taking bribery--any tool--to abuse, terrorize, kill, hurt and rob people, except those that are part of their inner circle or who they can use for the time being to get what they want (then they're "expendable").
The sham government they created and their twisted foot soldiers have no problem killing and destroying if it furthers their goal of acquiring the empire they fantasize about, and the personal wealth and power. Hard to believe, but the group indeed now has access to nuclear weapons.
While the facts (not their powerful propaganda) attest to the shameless evil, of the group's leaders, the heart and soul of their supporters is harder to discern. Many of them aren't evil. The majority of their supporters seem disillusioned, desperate and/or too susceptible to a continuous stream of grotesque propaganda and heavy-handed scare tactics. Many of them are just plain tired of all the pain and promises they endured from previous leaders. These people are starving for assistance and thirsty for hope. Easy to manipulate and egg-on.
So, don't just stare at the tail of the monster, go for the head. The most dangerous, frightening, wide-spread and evil threat to America (and the world) is the trump organization. Whether you know, deny or ignore them, if they haven't hurt you yet personally, watch your back and your facts carefully.
The sham government they created and their twisted foot soldiers have no problem killing and destroying if it furthers their goal of acquiring the empire they fantasize about, and the personal wealth and power. Hard to believe, but the group indeed now has access to nuclear weapons.
While the facts (not their powerful propaganda) attest to the shameless evil, of the group's leaders, the heart and soul of their supporters is harder to discern. Many of them aren't evil. The majority of their supporters seem disillusioned, desperate and/or too susceptible to a continuous stream of grotesque propaganda and heavy-handed scare tactics. Many of them are just plain tired of all the pain and promises they endured from previous leaders. These people are starving for assistance and thirsty for hope. Easy to manipulate and egg-on.
So, don't just stare at the tail of the monster, go for the head. The most dangerous, frightening, wide-spread and evil threat to America (and the world) is the trump organization. Whether you know, deny or ignore them, if they haven't hurt you yet personally, watch your back and your facts carefully.
8
OK Stop Drop Roll the head of this monster is Don the Con Fraudster Trumpeter
I just ran across this great list of causes of death from heart disease to shark attack and asteroid strike.
Apparently we are more likely to win a lottery jackpot than to be killed by a terrorist.
http://uk.businessinsider.com/death-risk-statistics-terrorism-disease-ac...
Apparently we are more likely to win a lottery jackpot than to be killed by a terrorist.
http://uk.businessinsider.com/death-risk-statistics-terrorism-disease-ac...
11
Thank you for providing this link. It is sobering to think that one is more than five times as likely to be killed by police as by foreign terrorists.
1
John Kelly is a profoundly ignorant and uneducated man, evincing few discourse skills. It is no surprise he found a cushy job among fellow paranoids in the Trump admin. He's a caricature of Joe McCarthy, of course. One assumes Kelly's people were thrown out of Ireland for illiteracy. Contrary to Kelly's wishes, Americans are NOT going to shut up but instead will get him fired, treat Muslims fairly, and push for reform of our immigration laws.
10
Yes, we are under attack everyday. The attacks, sadly, are coming from our own government, with threats and provocations. Kelly is slowly and methodically building a police state enforcement organization. A deportation force under the guise of border payroll personnel. Expanded detention facilities. Vigilance is one thing, bully tactics and constant threats are something else. Kelly should have stayed in retirement. He's an over zealous opportunist too eager to please his unqualified boss, Donald Trump. Kelly may have been a good general. He's a lousy Homeland Security boss. Let's all hope he doesn't get the gestapo organization that he is fervently trying to establish.
Strange I found none of these concerns expressed by the NY Times during the previous regime or two.
1
More explanation of last comment--the country didn't have to worry under Obama because he was NOT a fear mongering, lying, gaslighting, corrupt POTUS!!!
People often wonder how Nazis took over Germany back in the 1900's. Why people accepted the Nazi point of view is because there were enough people
who thought like that and enough people willing to do the things
the Nazis wanted them to do.
who thought like that and enough people willing to do the things
the Nazis wanted them to do.
3
We should rest easier now that Obama is yachting instead of weakening America's security. John Kelley will take a simple approach to terrorism. If it quacks like a terrorist, looks like a terrorist, it is a terrorist. So expect Mosques and families with women who wear hijab to be surveilled rather than the political correctness approach of surveilling no one. And expect Syrian Muslim refugees to be denied entrance to the US. Makes sense.
And none of this will make anyone safer in any way, it's just simple paranoia.
May we also remind you that the OKC bombing, which was deadlier than any attack outside 9/11 was committed by white domestic terrorist. And more people are killed by guns lawfully owned every month than by terrorists in a decade. Not to mention traffic deaths, and the additional deaths from dismantling health insurance.
And no Syrian refugee has been a terrorist. In fact, all the terrorists have come from countries that Trump is not restricting because he has business interests there.
So you can tell yourself that you will feel safer now. Meanwhile, I pity that you life your life in fear of threat that will never affect you.
May we also remind you that the OKC bombing, which was deadlier than any attack outside 9/11 was committed by white domestic terrorist. And more people are killed by guns lawfully owned every month than by terrorists in a decade. Not to mention traffic deaths, and the additional deaths from dismantling health insurance.
And no Syrian refugee has been a terrorist. In fact, all the terrorists have come from countries that Trump is not restricting because he has business interests there.
So you can tell yourself that you will feel safer now. Meanwhile, I pity that you life your life in fear of threat that will never affect you.
When you are short on talent, try to rely on bluster and scary images. Get a bigger megaphone John, you're boring at this level.
Benjamin Franklin once said: "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
Benjamin Franklin once said: "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
5
The attitude you express here, and that expressed by most of the posters here, is exactly the same that got us into 9/11.
Why don't you go all the way and hurl that final insult to civilized society that was born in the Obama era, not to say in Obama's brain: "Let's not be hysterical: a certain amount of terrorism must be accepted."
And you still wonder why you lost.
Why don't you go all the way and hurl that final insult to civilized society that was born in the Obama era, not to say in Obama's brain: "Let's not be hysterical: a certain amount of terrorism must be accepted."
And you still wonder why you lost.
Mr Kelly is preempting the incompetence this administration including his own.
I am more afraid of pick trucks with NRA sticker behind them then a lone terrorist.
I have survived 9/11, while working in world financial center. I was afraid and worried than but today I am afraid of the Washington DC than the people out side of our country.
Disclaimer: I work in NYC every day and do not have expensive protection of Secret service.
I am more afraid of pick trucks with NRA sticker behind them then a lone terrorist.
I have survived 9/11, while working in world financial center. I was afraid and worried than but today I am afraid of the Washington DC than the people out side of our country.
Disclaimer: I work in NYC every day and do not have expensive protection of Secret service.
Several months ago a Facebook poster quoted a Persian poet: "Fear is the cheapest room in the house." We have sold our country to the low bidder.
Great editorial. Keep on speaking out, Times. We need you now more than ever...
1
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself". Spoken by a man in a wheelchair handling the greatest war and threat to modern civilization known to modern humanity.
Then we get "Mission Accomplished" and terror around every corner. And boy howdy, did Cheney and Blackwater and their shareholders start raking in the dough. No, the only terror in our nation is Wall Street and their Republicans manipulating the public. Indeed we are under attack by Putin and the KGB, but this time the Republicans are complicit.
Then we get "Mission Accomplished" and terror around every corner. And boy howdy, did Cheney and Blackwater and their shareholders start raking in the dough. No, the only terror in our nation is Wall Street and their Republicans manipulating the public. Indeed we are under attack by Putin and the KGB, but this time the Republicans are complicit.
3
How else can Kelly, Trump and Sessions justify the eradication of our fellow citizens civil rights and the imposition of a new police state without Fear of the 'Other'? How else can they justify the immense amount of monies for our military forces? Fear.
It is always Fear of people of Color. Today Brown people. Tomorrow who knows - Yellow people? The racism of Trump and Sessions is now given freedom and support by our GOP controlled government. Bannon's Islamaphobia is gaining momentum as well.
American White Christian Males are by far the greatest threat to Democracy than any other identified to date. Guns and Greed rule in America. Keep the masses focused on the "Other" while we take care of business.
It is always Fear of people of Color. Today Brown people. Tomorrow who knows - Yellow people? The racism of Trump and Sessions is now given freedom and support by our GOP controlled government. Bannon's Islamaphobia is gaining momentum as well.
American White Christian Males are by far the greatest threat to Democracy than any other identified to date. Guns and Greed rule in America. Keep the masses focused on the "Other" while we take care of business.
1
If Mr. Kelly is concerned about low employee morale, let him consider the condition of IRS as an agency and its employees. I'm sure he realizes the money to fund his over supplied agency comes from all of us (taxpqyers who should "shut up") through the efforts of the IRS. An agency that has been severely underfunded ("starved") for over 7 years. Compare DHS funding to that of the IRS. And the DHS just wants more resources and especially power. Sorry John, you're not in the Marines any more, and your imperious commands hopefully won't be listened to seriously. We're not at war and the DHS has adequate resources (or more than adequate) for the task.
1
I never realized I was a "political pawn" unable to do my job. I must have been too busy doing my job!
"Give me liberty or give me death!" (Patrick Henry)
"He who chooses security over liberty deserves either". (Benjamin Franklin)
“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”
― Emma Lazarus
The first, fourth and fifth amendment of the US Constitution and its preamble.
These are my responses to John Kelly, whose forefathers came as immigrants from the Emerald Isle so that he would have better conditions than they. He should read the history of their journey and of the resistance against the Roman Catholicism which was not wanted here.
And lastly, I remind Kelly and his ilk of the following from theConstitution:
"Article [I] (Amendment 1 - Freedom of expression and religion)
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances".
"He who chooses security over liberty deserves either". (Benjamin Franklin)
“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”
― Emma Lazarus
The first, fourth and fifth amendment of the US Constitution and its preamble.
These are my responses to John Kelly, whose forefathers came as immigrants from the Emerald Isle so that he would have better conditions than they. He should read the history of their journey and of the resistance against the Roman Catholicism which was not wanted here.
And lastly, I remind Kelly and his ilk of the following from theConstitution:
"Article [I] (Amendment 1 - Freedom of expression and religion)
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances".
"Rudolph W. Giuliani, who is negotiating in the case of Reza Zarrab, a Turkish gold trader, said he was seeking a resolution that would promote national security interests." Maybe the real danger is that the the global super rich are trying to keep all the pie for themselves and their families. Democracy is just about dead. This nation's government is more and more a mere business meant to help the rich.
1
And willing to forget treason, because we're in a nuclear war! It is most important that people call GOP members of House/Senate Intel Committees and demand complete, thorough, speedy investigation into Trump-Putin ties that placed him in White House. DT is narcissistic enough to think what's good for him is good enough for rest of us.
DT is survivor in chief-6 bankruptcies; 2 divorces; 1 recording "I can grab women by the...cause I'm a star;" 0 income tax & financial disclosure. Now, mother of all survivals-collusion with Putin! That is were Syrian attack, saber rattling come in handy. We have been here before-wrong reasons for Vietnam, Iraq, presidents lying. DT is mother of all liars, and his nuclear war ( " why have nuclear weapons if you are not going to use them?) will be mother of all wars.
DT is survivor in chief-6 bankruptcies; 2 divorces; 1 recording "I can grab women by the...cause I'm a star;" 0 income tax & financial disclosure. Now, mother of all survivals-collusion with Putin! That is were Syrian attack, saber rattling come in handy. We have been here before-wrong reasons for Vietnam, Iraq, presidents lying. DT is mother of all liars, and his nuclear war ( " why have nuclear weapons if you are not going to use them?) will be mother of all wars.
1
"If you want total security, go to prison. There you're fed, clothed, given medical care and so on. The only thing lacking...is freedom." Dwight D. Eisenhower
3
Our greatest threat is from the White House and the people staffing the current administration.
Ignorance and fear is not a strategic direction.
As soon as you hear a "leader" say "shut up," you have heard an announcement that he has no priority but brutality and no allegiance to freedom or the American Constitution.
The priority of We The People: defend freedom from the enemies within. They are not our leaders. They are not pro-America. They are ignorant paid bullies.
Ignorance and fear is not a strategic direction.
As soon as you hear a "leader" say "shut up," you have heard an announcement that he has no priority but brutality and no allegiance to freedom or the American Constitution.
The priority of We The People: defend freedom from the enemies within. They are not our leaders. They are not pro-America. They are ignorant paid bullies.
More absurd fear mongering from this inept administration. How did the woman LEO get through the TSA screening with her handgun in her purse, just this week? Explain that, and "get your house in order", before you try lecturing anyone on random terror attacks. Start TRAINING your people, start supervising those people, diligently, and you might have some credibility.
Until they pass the tests of stopping guns, knives and fake explosives getting through the screening process, you have nothing to say.
"Pat downs" of children, bordering on molestation, are daily embarrassments.
DO YOUR JOB!
Until they pass the tests of stopping guns, knives and fake explosives getting through the screening process, you have nothing to say.
"Pat downs" of children, bordering on molestation, are daily embarrassments.
DO YOUR JOB!
3
These guys are fear mongers. The more fear they can instill the more secure their jobs are. Basically, they're just lying wimps.
1
"They", whatever odd assortment of folk Kelly means with his sloppy but self deluding use of pronoun, may be out to get us and some most assuredly are just as somewhere a mass murdering psychopath is at work, but leave it to Kelly and his fellow travelers to be the ones who despise, scorn, aand hate his own countrymen who after being informed and over informed don't buy into his delusions and reject his premises. In fact Kelly might consider putting himself in his "they", given his hate for so many of his countrymen who never had a terrorist thought in their lives, assuming intellectual integrity. I joke of course. No integrity there.
Another GOP solution in search of a problem. Will they never stop trying to cram the ugly stepsister's foot into the glass slipper of American democracy?
3
Illegal aliens have no rights in MY country
We want them gone........................its' why Trump won
We want them gone........................its' why Trump won
1
They have rights in MY country. Your comment is utterly disgusting.
1
YOU want them gone hate monger. I am also from the Emerald City and I don't harbor that fear, ignorance and hate. I can tell you that YOU are the minority in my fair state. Why do you get out?? Your spew is not wanted here (or most anywhere that educated and compassionate folks reside.). And I know you feel like a minority in the Pacific NW. Sickening and pathetic.
1
Some of you want them gone.
Many of us appreciate what they do, often jobs that we do not want to do for wages we will not work for.
Most of our ancestors moved here as immigrants, allowed in because they were white skinned and willing to work for a pittance.
Many of us appreciate what they do, often jobs that we do not want to do for wages we will not work for.
Most of our ancestors moved here as immigrants, allowed in because they were white skinned and willing to work for a pittance.
Dear Mr. Kelly:
I admire your political will to protect Americans from dangerous minorities. I would like to bring your attention to a distinct minority group that has committed more than 69% of violent crime in the United States.
White males have demonstrated extremely violent behavior of late. Consider, most mass shootings are committed by young White men who are heavily armed. White Males commit the majority of rapes and murder in this country.
Most alarmingly of all, most of these crimes are committed against other White people! As a White American, I need to ask you to protect and defend me and my family from this dangerous group.
Thank you.
I admire your political will to protect Americans from dangerous minorities. I would like to bring your attention to a distinct minority group that has committed more than 69% of violent crime in the United States.
White males have demonstrated extremely violent behavior of late. Consider, most mass shootings are committed by young White men who are heavily armed. White Males commit the majority of rapes and murder in this country.
Most alarmingly of all, most of these crimes are committed against other White people! As a White American, I need to ask you to protect and defend me and my family from this dangerous group.
Thank you.
1
Of our too frequent disgraces, using law endorsement to break up families, children coming home from school to find Mom is deported. Is what we have become? Goons? Bullies, Greedy, Nasty and them claim Christianity? This in inhuman and unacceptable.
Congress has no objection to persons known to be insane or on the terrorist no fly list can freely purchase assault weapons and unlimited amo but "undocumented family" now lives with daily threats of the survival. Deport our total current Congress with staff for neglect, abuse of oath, and corruption might be the best way to irradiate the rabid vermin that rapidly driving us to the abyss.
"Make America Decent (MAD)"
Congress has no objection to persons known to be insane or on the terrorist no fly list can freely purchase assault weapons and unlimited amo but "undocumented family" now lives with daily threats of the survival. Deport our total current Congress with staff for neglect, abuse of oath, and corruption might be the best way to irradiate the rabid vermin that rapidly driving us to the abyss.
"Make America Decent (MAD)"
1
Up to now, the Times has included Mr. Kelly among the few people in the administration on whom we can pin our hopes, one of the wiser heads who may prevail.
So much for him. Who do you suppose will be the last man standing?
http://thefamilyproperty.blogspot.jp/
So much for him. Who do you suppose will be the last man standing?
http://thefamilyproperty.blogspot.jp/
Take a look at the propaganda of the Nazi's as Hitler ascended into power. Trump is not Hitler. He is too stupid. But the paranoid climate is being created for such a situation. Jeff Sessions as president, anyone?
1
People selling soft drinks show you commercials that make you feel thirsty and long for the relief of a cold soda pop -- never mind if it's giving you diabetes. People selling security take to whatever forum is available and do their best to stir up fear and create the mistaken impression that they can save you from it. A huckster is a huckster, no matter what it is he's selling.
1
Mr. Kelly mirrors most of what Trump's campaign focused on ~ the US is horrible and unsafe, and Trump is [his] god's choice to save all of us.
It seems that in this social media era, and especially in the sources that a lot of the 63 million voters rely on for news and facts, a glass that is 75% full is almost empty & worthless.
It seems that in this social media era, and especially in the sources that a lot of the 63 million voters rely on for news and facts, a glass that is 75% full is almost empty & worthless.
"Oh, that is all well and good, but, voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country."
- Hermann Göring
- Hermann Göring
1
Thoughts from a well known "Snowflake":
"Any society that will give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both."---- Benjamin Franklin
"Any society that will give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both."---- Benjamin Franklin
Fear mongering is the lowest form of politics. The very powerful official spouting those simplistic sentences about our being under attack is aiming to stir up the faithful to demand stronger and meaner actions by his forces. He has already seemed to wink at excesses ( expulsion of a dreamer to Mexico in less than three hours). I was assured that Mr. Kelly was a responsible adult upon his appointment. Now what I am to believe? Sometimes I am afraid we are only a Reichstag fire away from a security state.
Between this and new immigration controls, US is on way to having our very own Nazi Stormtroopers - doesn't anyone know history anymore?!
Some of us are Manichean and Hobbesian and Kelly speaks our language
Too bad NYT does not
Too bad NYT does not
1
Thank goodness the NYT, and the entire country doesn't speak your language.
The whole idea is to make us paranoid. Divide and conquer. Fear is the great controller. We have seen this all before. We should be afraid, but not of someone coming to bomb us. t-rump will pull the first trigger on our friends and allies. What a pathetic government we now have.
1
Demonize the "other," whip up a frenzy of fear, promote authoritarian leadership. Straight from Hitler's playbook.
Yes, we get a constant barrage of fear-anger-hate-LIES, LIES, LIES from The Con Don and his Top 1% Global Financial Elite Mafia-Model Robber Baron/ Radical Religion Good Old Boys' Party/ Corporate Cabal AND the media who serve them.
Please, Good People of America and the world, see it for what it is. Propaganda to create a smokescreen so we won't see what they are really doing - trying to destroy the world with their insatiable greed.
Do not let them. Every single person who cares about democracy and OUR World should join the Earth Day March for Science tomorrow. There are sister marches across America and around the world. Let's show them the kind of world WE want!
https://www.marchforscience.com/
Please, Good People of America and the world, see it for what it is. Propaganda to create a smokescreen so we won't see what they are really doing - trying to destroy the world with their insatiable greed.
Do not let them. Every single person who cares about democracy and OUR World should join the Earth Day March for Science tomorrow. There are sister marches across America and around the world. Let's show them the kind of world WE want!
https://www.marchforscience.com/
10
My "fear" associated with all this is what backdoor/under-the-table deals are these diversions camouflaging ? For example, giving Exxon a waiver from U.S. and international sanctions against Russia, so that Vladimire Putin and Rex Tillerson can advance their personal wealth ? ! And God knows what else !
148
no conflict of interest in a former ceo of exxon , now sos, getting waivers for russia sanctions so exxon can make more money
nope, none at all if youre in the trump admin
what do you suppose the result would have been had hillary done the exact same thing ?
1
Dear tjsiii, Spot on! Exactly what I believe is going on. It's all a great charade to enrich the rich...
Another rat added to the festering swamp. The drain must be stopped up some how. C'mon Don, call a plumber to fix the plugged up swamp. You can't hire your favorite one though, because you "stiffed" him so maybe you should dial roto rooter. You may have to pay up front. Strange how no one seems to trust you.
3
Has anyone considered the effects of all this feamongering and the rise in the supply and demand of both licensed and unlicensed firearms?
Want to save America lives? -- Re-think gun control laws.
Want to save America lives? -- Re-think gun control laws.
17
Now the danger of a large number of Generals being given so much power is starting to get attention. If you've been paying attention you can see, in their language, their military bent. They use words like defense, offensive, front lines, warfare and the like. They think of those in opposition as enemies. The act like Generals by telling Congress to shut up. They don't tolerate anything but obedience from this departments, just like a General would of soldiers. When you've spent just about your entire adult life in the military you bring a military "bent" to everything you do and everything you think. It's very dangerous and is also a facet of a totalitarianism bent in governing.
16
Kelly was going to be one of the generals who protected the nation from Trump's ignorance and stupidity. Instead he is an enabler who lies and fearmongers like everyone else in the administration.
25
The extent to which this government increasingly resembles that of Germany in the 1930s, with the rise of the Nazis, is truly scary. Kelly is just another thug, like his boss, as Goebbels was a thug like his boss, etc, etc. Wake up, America, the news is not good, and it's getting worse by the day.
19
America is not at war with islam. Islam is at war with the world, as it has been since mohammade and the islamic god gave him the message. Over 3,200 Americans dead, well over 6,000 wounded in America in the name of jihad and the NYTs wants to pretend that these dead and wounded signify nothing.
Thailand, The Philippines, Europe, Russia, China, India and Sub-Sahara Africa are all experiencing social unrest, riots, attacks and all out war carried out in the name of islam, but the NYTs wants everyone to ignore the violent and intolerant nature of islam.
Sorry, Editorial Board, the world is no longer naive enough to buy your propaganda.
Thailand, The Philippines, Europe, Russia, China, India and Sub-Sahara Africa are all experiencing social unrest, riots, attacks and all out war carried out in the name of islam, but the NYTs wants everyone to ignore the violent and intolerant nature of islam.
Sorry, Editorial Board, the world is no longer naive enough to buy your propaganda.
5
@Rob. People who believe Islam is an existential threat to the US also believe the solution to our gun violence problem, which exceeds jihad related deaths by several orders of magnitude, is best solved by pouring more guns on the fire. Talk about naivety.
1
Over 3,200 Americans dead,
and in the same time period, > 150, 000 americans shot dead by firearms inside the usa by non muslim terrorist
have a nice day
Homeland was "Heimat" under the Nazis, a word stressed to the extreme by their propaganda.
Today it's only used for "Heimat-Lieder" the shmaltzy songs for those who can't get along with the time without sentimental clutter.
Maybe Americans should think about these strange parallels.
Today it's only used for "Heimat-Lieder" the shmaltzy songs for those who can't get along with the time without sentimental clutter.
Maybe Americans should think about these strange parallels.
4
And this is one ofyour adults in the room?
6
Fear, fear, fear... the rat worm of propaganda, has been used by the right so often and so consistently, it has become one of the "legs" of their stool. As some commenters below point out, if the same money we are spending on Homeland Security were spent on any number of other problems, actual lives saved would skyrocket. But, stay scared, Americans... that's the message of the proto-facists.
11
Mr. Kelly's efforts are not aimed at policy-making, but at instilling enough fear in the public that they will gladly hand over their freedoms in order to be saved from this unnamed threat. Wake up, America; we are headed into the Fourth Reich! Read your history books! Read Timothy Snyder's "On Tyranny." The parallels are staggering and grow with every impulsive rant from our ersatz president.
8
This is a Trumpublican talking to his base, not to intelligent Americans.
4
Kelly is just demonstrating what a sycophant's fialty to a gadfly sounds like. Guys like Kelly will eventually lose all credibility, if he ever had any, and just fade away.
1
The people running this country are absolute nuts. How did we ever get into this mess-ignorant voters. How do we get out of this mess-hard to say.
11
We get out of this mess by educating voters--indeed, educate the entire populace. Note that the Republicans are doing their level best to limit both education and voting. God forbid people should understand the truth and be able to vote according to it.
1
How do we get out of this mess-hard to say.
you dont
america is dying right before your eyes and youre powerless to help
you dont
america is dying right before your eyes and youre powerless to help
Could thus be deflection from the katest Republican attenpt to steal health care from millions so tgey can give tax cuts to the wealthy and the fact that there is no budget ready?
3
I totally agree. This is a major case of "WAG THE DOG". North Korea, Iran all brought into the forefront and suddenly, look what is off the front pages of our newspapers and media, trumpgate!
We are no longer talking about the Russian influence of our recent election and trumpalini's involvement. This is all by design to distract us, even if it brings us to the brink of war.
Trump was labeled unfit to be POTUS well before the election. What more proof does anyone need. A mushroom cloud?
We are no longer talking about the Russian influence of our recent election and trumpalini's involvement. This is all by design to distract us, even if it brings us to the brink of war.
Trump was labeled unfit to be POTUS well before the election. What more proof does anyone need. A mushroom cloud?
"They despise the United States, because we are a nation of rights, of laws and of freedoms. They have a single mission, and that is our destruction.”
Kelly's words are reminiscent of W's: "They hate us for our freedom."
No, you idiots, why would they give a damn about that? They hate us because we meddle in their affairs, acting like an imperial force imposing our will on the colonies.
Kelly's words are reminiscent of W's: "They hate us for our freedom."
No, you idiots, why would they give a damn about that? They hate us because we meddle in their affairs, acting like an imperial force imposing our will on the colonies.
11
Kelly is creating a wave of discontent that will some day no doubt have serious consequences. Just because you can slap some one in the face does not mean it is a good idea.
Trump and his minion love slapping people just because they can, It is all evident in the endless tone of self righteousness "and look at the good we have done so fast" !
Trump and his minion love slapping people just because they can, It is all evident in the endless tone of self righteousness "and look at the good we have done so fast" !
135
"We have nothing to fear but Fear itself!" - FDR
There is a name for those who tell us to live in terror. Such people are properly called terrorists.
"I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain." - Frank Herbert
" Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me" - David
There is a name for those who tell us to live in terror. Such people are properly called terrorists.
"I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain." - Frank Herbert
" Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me" - David
KELLY & THE OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY Have got things all wrong. The biggest threats to national security are the causes of the most deaths in the US, hence the greatest threats to national security, are:
Over 800,000 deaths per year from smoking tobacco.
Over 200,000 deaths per year from alcohol abuse.
Over 33,000 deaths per year from lethal gunshot wounds and over 60,000 nonlethal injuries from firearms.
Over 32,000 deaths per year from distracted drivers.
Over 32,000 deaths per year from opioid overdose.
Deaths and injuries per year from domestic violence are another source of terrorism.
Tragic though they are, the number of deaths per year related to terrorism, domestic or foreign, is far fewer than any of the above sources.
Even one single death per year from any of the causes listed above is one too many. But to increase Homeland Security, the definition of what constitutes a threat must be changed. The Declaration of Independence states that in the US we are entitled to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. Death or serious injury, physical, mental or sexual, must be significantly decreased to make the US Homeland more secure!
Over 800,000 deaths per year from smoking tobacco.
Over 200,000 deaths per year from alcohol abuse.
Over 33,000 deaths per year from lethal gunshot wounds and over 60,000 nonlethal injuries from firearms.
Over 32,000 deaths per year from distracted drivers.
Over 32,000 deaths per year from opioid overdose.
Deaths and injuries per year from domestic violence are another source of terrorism.
Tragic though they are, the number of deaths per year related to terrorism, domestic or foreign, is far fewer than any of the above sources.
Even one single death per year from any of the causes listed above is one too many. But to increase Homeland Security, the definition of what constitutes a threat must be changed. The Declaration of Independence states that in the US we are entitled to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. Death or serious injury, physical, mental or sexual, must be significantly decreased to make the US Homeland more secure!
25
The Department of Homeland Security's missions are preventing terrorism and enhancing security; managing our borders; administering immigration laws; securing cyberspace; and ensuring disaster resilience. Other federal and state agencies are tasked to deal with the other issues you list.
1
The most visible feature of this government is that it has gone from being one that was at least marginally concerned with the well being of its citizens - to one concerned only with commerce and concentration of wealth.
Fearmongering simply channels human resources in a way that is more accessible and controllable by the criminals we have put into power. It has nothing to do with the safety of our citizens.
Fearmongering simply channels human resources in a way that is more accessible and controllable by the criminals we have put into power. It has nothing to do with the safety of our citizens.
20
I work in a small private university with a good size population of foreign students. They come to this county, attend school (paying full tuition prices), learn another culture, grow as human beings, impact our students, and return to their homeland with skills and knowledge valuable to international cooperation. Mr. Kelly's comments and President Trump's policies have an impact far beyond illegal immigration and create an icy climate in which students are fearful of coming to this country. We are losing these students and we will all lose with this model.
24
Mr. Kelly said that Americans have grown complacent because their government has done such a good job of keeping them safe. The reality, he warned, is quite different: “We are under attack from terrorism both within and outside of our borders. These men and women are without conscience, and they operate without rules. They despise the United States, because we are a nation of rights, of laws and of freedoms.
So let's take away those Rights and Freedoms. That'll fix everything.
So let's take away those Rights and Freedoms. That'll fix everything.
12
I live in NY surrounded by people from other countries. The most fearful people live in the safest areas it seems. NYC survived a terrorist attack and continues to thrive. My family immigrated to NY in 1850 and I don't intend to leave. Stay strong and don't let fear take over your life.
There are many people/groups that make a lot of money based on your fear.
There are many people/groups that make a lot of money based on your fear.
19
Let us not praise generals. Generals, generally, have no greater virtue than anyone else and, generally, need to be restrained lest they do harm. A democracy that gives the power of political and policy decision over to generals will not long be a democracy.
17
History has proven the truth of Mr. Zeitz's observation - over and over again. And still we do not learn.
"If Americans take his discourse at face value, they will be living in a paranoid society willing to trade fundamental freedoms and principles for a sense of security."
But isn't that the whole point? It's a perfect summary of the politics of fear and how it can be used to undermine a true pluralist democracy.
It deliberately hides the fact that that's in fact what we should be most afraid of. Hopefully enough people will come to their senses and realize this before it is too late. The enemy is, in fact, within.
But isn't that the whole point? It's a perfect summary of the politics of fear and how it can be used to undermine a true pluralist democracy.
It deliberately hides the fact that that's in fact what we should be most afraid of. Hopefully enough people will come to their senses and realize this before it is too late. The enemy is, in fact, within.
13
I am afraid though, of people like Kelley and Sessions ... And I am afraid people are not going to 'come to their senses'. We need to figure out how to combat this paranoia. I do not know the answer.
" Mr. Kelly’s choice of words reflects the dismal state of public discourse in American politics. But even more alarming is his unrestrained fearmongering. If Americans take his discourse at face value, they will be living in a paranoid society willing to trade fundamental freedoms and principles for a sense of security."
Mr. Kelly is just following a long tradition of American politics. That is state- sponsored fear mongering to control and discipline society. The fear among Americans ranges from foreign exotic diseases to the powers of the state, IRS, domestic surveillance, domestic/foreign enemies etc, etc.
Mr. Kelly is just following a long tradition of American politics. That is state- sponsored fear mongering to control and discipline society. The fear among Americans ranges from foreign exotic diseases to the powers of the state, IRS, domestic surveillance, domestic/foreign enemies etc, etc.
7
We earn our 'fundamental freedoms and principals". There is a simple unwritten contract as an American citizen. Follow the laws. If you don't like the law then there are a number of legal ways to change the law.
We have looked the other way for far too long. Americans for the most part think if you treat everyone with love, and kindness, then everything will be OK. That is nice but it is not the case in real life.
We have looked the other way for far too long. Americans for the most part think if you treat everyone with love, and kindness, then everything will be OK. That is nice but it is not the case in real life.
2
Mexico is not in war or in crisis. Returnees don't have to fear persecution from the government. The opportunity to participate in democracy and work to find a better life exists there. Yet so many Eurocentric Americans puff themselves up in moral indignation and fancy their outrage is somehow saving Latinos from some unspecified horrors. Undocumented immigrants from Mexico aren't fleeing a nightmare, they are simply making an economic choice. If you are happy with their choice perhaps you should ask yourself if everyone anywhere has that right. If the answer is no you are in favor of some sort of immigration enforcement. That is all we are talking about here, enforcing the same sort of border control every other nation already does. If you believe every person in Mexico has the right to show up here and stay, argue for that in Congress. But common sense, and most public opinion, stands against you.
4
Mexico is not in a declared war or revolution but the narco-terrorism and drug cartel strife makes some regions and villages battlefields. Yes, hard working people striving to improve themselves and their families and their communities come across the border for better wages. That does not mean many of them are coming for the money and are coming to save their lives and their children's lives. Fathers send money home to keep their children from having to go into the cartels or be trafficked by the cartels. We are busy across the globe whiel ignoring our neighbors plght.
Trump, Kelly, Sessions and the remainder of the crew now in charge have no vision and engage in knee jerk reactions of fear and loathing since that's all they have to offer. This is demonstrated by two failed travel bans, the failure to replace the ACA after 7 years of claiming it was a failed policy with death panels and massive job losses and an obstructionist congress that remains silent during Trump's perfidy, conflicts of interest, collusion with Russia and the ignorant denial of climate change. This disconnect from reality leaves them little to work with so they cling to fear of anyone different. The absence of respect for the office he holds, the inconsistencies, lies and pathetic attempts at spin using "alternative facts" along with attacks on the judiciary system, the press, the intelligence community and "liberals" will be Donald Trump's undoing along with the Republican Party who has put their politics before their country. They have hijacked the nation and will do whatever is necessary to cling to that power if it's allowed to continue. Everything changes and since this behavior is not the America I know, I believe or at the very least, hope his supporters are getting the message that shaking Washington to it's very foundation is not a healthy way to govern. The status quo is most certainly better than what we now have.
6
Mr. Kelly’s harsh tone and anti-immigrant rhetoric can have a chilling effect on those who wish to visit and migrate legally to this country. When did the land of the free and the home of the brave become so unwelcoming to immigrants and hostile to family values? Are we supposed to live in a permanent state of fear because a foreign terrorist might slip into our country and cause us harm, while the real danger has been largely from lone wolves, who are disgruntled American citizens that actually have done us harm?
It is high time that the Trump administration stopped with this “unrestrained fearmongering.” To quote President Trump, “the election is over,” so let’s stop making it seem like the immigrant problem, legal and illegal, is worse than it is. We are a nation of immigrants and every new generation appears to speak in strange foreign languages, or is a cultural misfit, or seems unlikely to assimilate… until it all works out like it has for over two centuries. Yes, the migration maybe less Judeo-Christian than it used to be, but this is what makes America unique… it too shall work out and ensure that America remains an exceptional nation much to the envy of the rest of the world.
It is high time that the Trump administration stopped with this “unrestrained fearmongering.” To quote President Trump, “the election is over,” so let’s stop making it seem like the immigrant problem, legal and illegal, is worse than it is. We are a nation of immigrants and every new generation appears to speak in strange foreign languages, or is a cultural misfit, or seems unlikely to assimilate… until it all works out like it has for over two centuries. Yes, the migration maybe less Judeo-Christian than it used to be, but this is what makes America unique… it too shall work out and ensure that America remains an exceptional nation much to the envy of the rest of the world.
3
Could we please focus any and all fears on global warming instead?
Thank you!
Thank you!
5
The science section has several articles on global warming. Go there. This as a different subject/concern. Both important, but separate.
The fear mongering trades on the fact that it's not ever possible to be completely safe.
We spend trillions on the military based on the same idea: you can never have too much defense and protection!! And if you say that enough is enough, then, well, it will be your fault when the inevitable happens and we get attacked.
We spend trillions on the military based on the same idea: you can never have too much defense and protection!! And if you say that enough is enough, then, well, it will be your fault when the inevitable happens and we get attacked.
4
The strategy is faulty. Al Qaeda was broken and IS sprang up even stronger. When IS is defeated, another group will rise up even stronger. The main recruits are from the Arabic speaking tribal areas who hear only fundamentalist propaganda. This war can only be won by better intelligence strategies not bombs. The tribal groups must hear from sources they trust that the West is not the enemy. Then support for the terrorist groups will weaken.
4
"Information in the press about national security is misleading or flat-out wrong, offering a false sense of security"?
Quite a stunning assertion. And frankly, the (sensationalistic) placement of this and other, similar statements, before identifying the source -- a Trump appointee -- in the *next paragraph* seems unworthy of real, informative, objective reporting on the news.
Is this assertion true? Or is this more "fake news" from Trump and his gang? Surely your analysis should make the answer to THAT point crystal clear too your readers!
Isn't the job of the press to inform us? If the statement is true, that's a big deal. But if it's another baseless assertion, then that should be pointed out and counter-information cited to refute a willfully misleading claim, no?
Quite a stunning assertion. And frankly, the (sensationalistic) placement of this and other, similar statements, before identifying the source -- a Trump appointee -- in the *next paragraph* seems unworthy of real, informative, objective reporting on the news.
Is this assertion true? Or is this more "fake news" from Trump and his gang? Surely your analysis should make the answer to THAT point crystal clear too your readers!
Isn't the job of the press to inform us? If the statement is true, that's a big deal. But if it's another baseless assertion, then that should be pointed out and counter-information cited to refute a willfully misleading claim, no?
3
Fear is usually enough to energize a political opposition. When combined with hate it is usually lethal. Whether it is Jews, or Jewish Bankers or Muslims or Muslim Terrorists, or Blacks or advocates of Black Power, we have had enough of hate filled fear in our living history to smell its repugnance and the odor of those who choose to use it for political gain.
The shoe bomber was English, the underwear bomber Nigerian the 9/11 attackers mostly Saudis, most of the other attackers were "home grown" unstable citizens of the United States, France,Belgium, Russia to name a few countries that have experienced lone wolf attacks.
We are dealing with a very small number of suicidal assassins that have been influenced by a very radical and very fanatical group with little power other than the internet to expand their sadistic movement. They pose no existential threat to the United States or any other advanced nation, who can and do protect their citizens very well but never with 100% effectiveness.
It is the means of spreading hate and encouraging lone assassins that need to be addressed. If we can shut down child pornography on the interned in days, we should be able to curb the spread of terrorism by ISIS the same way. Spreading hate and fear among our own population is not the answer, it is the road to disaster all too familiar in the past.
The shoe bomber was English, the underwear bomber Nigerian the 9/11 attackers mostly Saudis, most of the other attackers were "home grown" unstable citizens of the United States, France,Belgium, Russia to name a few countries that have experienced lone wolf attacks.
We are dealing with a very small number of suicidal assassins that have been influenced by a very radical and very fanatical group with little power other than the internet to expand their sadistic movement. They pose no existential threat to the United States or any other advanced nation, who can and do protect their citizens very well but never with 100% effectiveness.
It is the means of spreading hate and encouraging lone assassins that need to be addressed. If we can shut down child pornography on the interned in days, we should be able to curb the spread of terrorism by ISIS the same way. Spreading hate and fear among our own population is not the answer, it is the road to disaster all too familiar in the past.
5
ISIS in the Middle East is a brutal and deadly reality - with the enemy on your doorstep.
The image of ISIS attacking the US mainland is that of a boy attacking a man with a stick. The implication from DHS is that we need to go onto a war footing inside the US in order to remove the stick from the boy.
Really, "in a nation of rights, of laws and freedoms" the intelligence services want to create 'enemy combatants' within our communities.
I thought "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."
Illegal immigrants, muslims and ISIS all lumped together in the minds of the population. Maybe they should all wear a badge, or, as there are 50,000 illegal Irish immigrants in the USA, a shamrock. Just so we can recognise them.
The image of ISIS attacking the US mainland is that of a boy attacking a man with a stick. The implication from DHS is that we need to go onto a war footing inside the US in order to remove the stick from the boy.
Really, "in a nation of rights, of laws and freedoms" the intelligence services want to create 'enemy combatants' within our communities.
I thought "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."
Illegal immigrants, muslims and ISIS all lumped together in the minds of the population. Maybe they should all wear a badge, or, as there are 50,000 illegal Irish immigrants in the USA, a shamrock. Just so we can recognise them.
3
Uh, we already live "in a paranoid society willing to trade fundamental freedom and principles for a sense of security." Where have you been since 2001?
4
The case could be made that every political/military action of the Trump Administration is done to draw media attention away from the Russia connection. It is even true of Trump's nomination of Kelly, who now leads Homeland Security. An independent prosecutor would get to the bottom of this.
171
Especially since the lady in charge of the investigation at the DOJ announced that she was DOJ leaving today. Now no-one in charge to keep the investigation open.
The "Russia Connection" is just something the indignant left is using as a basis for disrupting the administration as much as possible because you don't share its goals and values. Oppose, by all means, but don't pretend that there's something there, i.e., collusion, just because it's been proposed by your political allies. There is NO evidence. Period. It's false, there's nothing there, and an ongoing investigation to maintain a cloud of doubt is your main approach.
Fear is one of the strategies used by Mr. Trump and the entire Republican party to gain power. In the meantime we become weaker because of their foolish plans.
But we must focus primarily on removing this administration in 2020, if not before. Let us demand to see his taxes, let us seek a special prosecutor in the Russian interference probe. I believe some or even Mr. Trump committed Treason last year.
Climate change threatens our planet, unfair taxation threatens our economy, refusal to protect our health system threatens our lives, wars in Mideast and possibly far east, now threatens our peace, failure to support a rise in the minimum wage enlarges poverty etc. The support of this uninformed president by the Republican party must be challenged.
Call your representatives today on any of these subjects to protect your family.
But we must focus primarily on removing this administration in 2020, if not before. Let us demand to see his taxes, let us seek a special prosecutor in the Russian interference probe. I believe some or even Mr. Trump committed Treason last year.
Climate change threatens our planet, unfair taxation threatens our economy, refusal to protect our health system threatens our lives, wars in Mideast and possibly far east, now threatens our peace, failure to support a rise in the minimum wage enlarges poverty etc. The support of this uninformed president by the Republican party must be challenged.
Call your representatives today on any of these subjects to protect your family.
20
We must remove them before 2020. Trump will do anything to stay in power including nuclear war. He will make you choose between him and Kim Jong Un. If there is such a thing as the antichrist Trump is it.
If the billions, spent since 9/11 have all been a waste, then eliminate Kelly and his department.
112
I think we absolutely should; and unlike most people in the country, I was there; I watched everything from the roof of my office, less than 1 mile from the WTC. I also lost 1 good friend (a FDNY Captain) I had known for over 10 years.
I know others who lost family, but my point is it was much more palpable if you lived there. I rode my bicycle home (13 miles) that day. I was living in Flushing, Queens at the time. I will never forget the smell of smoky burnt plastic when I rode my bicycle over the East River on the Williamsburgh Bridge into Manhattan. It lasted about 3 weeks.
I know others who lost family, but my point is it was much more palpable if you lived there. I rode my bicycle home (13 miles) that day. I was living in Flushing, Queens at the time. I will never forget the smell of smoky burnt plastic when I rode my bicycle over the East River on the Williamsburgh Bridge into Manhattan. It lasted about 3 weeks.
Want to save thousands of American lives each year: Screen for drunk drivers exiting bars.
444
A cab stand outside bars, and safe overnight parking to store their cars. It has been done. It works.
22
And arrest people texting while driving while we are at it.
3
and enforce traffic laws in general, drunk driving accounts for 17% of fatal accidents and failing to obey traffic control devices for 38% of fatals. Where is the outrage?
and that doesn't include pedestrians
and that doesn't include pedestrians
1
So much for the moderating influence the generals in the adminstration will have. Ha. Kelly is another crank/crackpot just like flynn. Worse actually because he has an SS behind him.
20
Fear of "the Other" has always been the main motor of American politics, since the beginning.
We are a nation that feeds and runs on paranoia, and we must always have an enemy to define who we are.
It is the foundation of our most popular religions, the core of the "us against them" mentality that lives in every small, drug-ridden village in the rural areas, the basis of our collective and individual sense of self.
Without it, aimed at a simply-defined enemy -- call it the Indians, the slaves, the immigrants, the catholics, the jews, the poor, the hippies, LGBTQ, the name really doesn't matter [except it does, to all of us, who are the majority] -- America is a big, fat nothing, with a heroin problem.
So Irishman Kelly's summoning of this trope should come as no surprise.
Thing is, we've long lost our interest in such fearmongering, those of us still functional, that is.
And the problem is -- as it has always been -- that the real terrorists are the ones perpetuating the paranoia. The pedophiles, child and spouse abusers, are all inside the circled wagons. They always have been. They're the ones with the guns, "defending" us, so they can prey on us themselves.
We are a nation that feeds and runs on paranoia, and we must always have an enemy to define who we are.
It is the foundation of our most popular religions, the core of the "us against them" mentality that lives in every small, drug-ridden village in the rural areas, the basis of our collective and individual sense of self.
Without it, aimed at a simply-defined enemy -- call it the Indians, the slaves, the immigrants, the catholics, the jews, the poor, the hippies, LGBTQ, the name really doesn't matter [except it does, to all of us, who are the majority] -- America is a big, fat nothing, with a heroin problem.
So Irishman Kelly's summoning of this trope should come as no surprise.
Thing is, we've long lost our interest in such fearmongering, those of us still functional, that is.
And the problem is -- as it has always been -- that the real terrorists are the ones perpetuating the paranoia. The pedophiles, child and spouse abusers, are all inside the circled wagons. They always have been. They're the ones with the guns, "defending" us, so they can prey on us themselves.
15
"Irishman Kelly"? You mean, "the Other"?
1
"The people of France will not take much more of this. Will have a big effect on presidential election!”
National security issues in the United States and in Europe are too important for adolescent-sounding tweets that end in exclamation points. We have elevated to the Presidency a man who cannot speak or write like an adult and who reduces everything in the world, including atrocities, to winning and losing.
When a human being boils everything down to money, sex, and fame, as Mr. Trump does, he ceases to be quite human.
But then, he's now the head of a political party which for some time now has focused on "winning" rather than helping to govern for the benefit of all citizens, and rearranging and enacting laws that make money for its biggest donors. As for fame: "You lie!" pretty much takes the cake. Loathsome people.
National security issues in the United States and in Europe are too important for adolescent-sounding tweets that end in exclamation points. We have elevated to the Presidency a man who cannot speak or write like an adult and who reduces everything in the world, including atrocities, to winning and losing.
When a human being boils everything down to money, sex, and fame, as Mr. Trump does, he ceases to be quite human.
But then, he's now the head of a political party which for some time now has focused on "winning" rather than helping to govern for the benefit of all citizens, and rearranging and enacting laws that make money for its biggest donors. As for fame: "You lie!" pretty much takes the cake. Loathsome people.
45
The only ones obsessed with winning above all else are always losers.
Perhaps we should call this The Loser Administration.
Perhaps we should call this The Loser Administration.
Fear is a destructive emotion, it should be avoided. Now doing something to address our many issues is required, fear is not.
9
Yup. We are under attack. By no nothing nativists in search of a fascist state.
Resist.
Resist.
159
"..... because we are a nation of rights, of laws and freedoms". Well, that depends on your gender, race and increasingly, your religion. Yes, we are under attack, but not from terrorists as much as those who use the terrorists to chip away the basic freedoms we should all share and were becoming available to more than just a privileged group, but are now being eroded in the name of security.
We are destroying the country through our own fear.
We are destroying the country through our own fear.
98
Mussolini got laws passed to aid his takeover of Italy. Trump's henchman Sessions, Kelly and the others will do the same. This is a perilous time in our history. We must resist.
84
The greater peril is that Mussolini did not get many laws passed. He worked inside the existing system, as Prime Minister from the dominant political party. He did all of that without the enabling legislation that Hitler used. The danger -- it can be done, actually has been done.
5
It is being done right now through the destruction of the many agencies of government that carry out our laws.
1
I thought Kelly was supposed to be one of the grown-ups, one of the few reasonable guys in Trump's cabinet. But woe is me! We are a people of unclean lips, as the psalmist declared. God help us.
40
I want only to offer a simple edit to the final line in the article on Homeland Security: Add the word 'false' to 'a sense of security' changing the line to 'a false sense of security.'
24
It's a bigger problem that contributes to this violence. Overpopulation, economic sliding, climate changes, wealth increasingly held by a small percentage of humans and political aggressiveness all feed violent behavior in the human species. A small percentage of powerful wealthy determine government and increasingly people feel they are oppressed and have fewer options. Humans aren't as brilliant as we think we are. We easily slide into a reptilian, emotional brain that is destructive and doesn't rise to good critical thinking and analysis to solve the problems. We have lost our connection to nature and ourselves. The spiritual part of each of us that finds value in nature, each other and ourselves. Read "A Distant Mirror, The Calamitous 14th century." We repeat and repeat history.
29
The road to totalitarianism is becoming shorter and shorter with a person like Kelly. This type of fearmongering combined with a badly educated population is a great way to control the masses. But, we have to ask ourselves what mister Kelly et.al are afraid of, because it seems to me that they are well aware of their own willfull ignorance and incompetence time and again to keep on saying these incendiary things.
286
I seem to remember Dick Cheney telling us, repeatedly, during the Obama years, that an attack was just around the corner. 9/11 happened because he and Buck Rogers were caught napping, so I guess this would make him an expert - whose prediction never came to be. How clueless can you be.
Of course, you would have to have someone as arrogant as Cheney to repeat those mistakes. And, of all people, trump is definitely....not....umhhh....arrogant.
Hmmhhhh. I can see why Kelly is so concerned.
Of course, you would have to have someone as arrogant as Cheney to repeat those mistakes. And, of all people, trump is definitely....not....umhhh....arrogant.
Hmmhhhh. I can see why Kelly is so concerned.
Motherland, Fatherland, Homeland. All three terms are appeals to tribalism. All three are appeals to keep watch on the walls because THEY are coming. Be wary. Be afraid. Sell your birthright for just a little safety.
The Patriot Act ... and Homeland Security, the agency it spawned ... was a terrible idea when it was first enacted and continues to be a terrible idea. We rushed headlong to stick our collective heads into the noose of the security state and it has been tightening ever since.
Kelly says Congress should have courage. Is he trying to be humorous? I cannot remember when Congress displayed anything but individual self-interest.
The Patriot Act ... and Homeland Security, the agency it spawned ... was a terrible idea when it was first enacted and continues to be a terrible idea. We rushed headlong to stick our collective heads into the noose of the security state and it has been tightening ever since.
Kelly says Congress should have courage. Is he trying to be humorous? I cannot remember when Congress displayed anything but individual self-interest.
16
And self interest is the main motivating factor of the Trump family.
Cheney set the tone of fear after September 11. Obama didn't do enough to dispel it. Now Kelly is doing a Cheney.
We need to channel FDR who would likely tell us that the currency of terrorists is fear and that if we are unafraid we will bankrupt them.
Yes, we must take reasonable precautions and accept some diminution of civil liberty for smart surveillance. But we must also recognize that ever more security leads to a police state.
Republicans and Trumpsters love to fly American flags and speak in deep manly cowboy twangy tones about America being the "land of the free and the home of the brave." Well pardners, it's long past time y'all stopped the jabbering, saddled up and started riding the ride. Yep, there are some nasty varmints hiding in holes on the prairie, but riding with a gun out, cocked and loaded, is a sure way to shoot yourself.
We need to channel FDR who would likely tell us that the currency of terrorists is fear and that if we are unafraid we will bankrupt them.
Yes, we must take reasonable precautions and accept some diminution of civil liberty for smart surveillance. But we must also recognize that ever more security leads to a police state.
Republicans and Trumpsters love to fly American flags and speak in deep manly cowboy twangy tones about America being the "land of the free and the home of the brave." Well pardners, it's long past time y'all stopped the jabbering, saddled up and started riding the ride. Yep, there are some nasty varmints hiding in holes on the prairie, but riding with a gun out, cocked and loaded, is a sure way to shoot yourself.
20
After the progressive dictatorship of Obama and Jeh Johnson, we finally have an administration who puts Americans first. HNS is not "fearmomgering"....it's telling it like it is. We still do not have a biometric visa entry and exit data system in place, no matter what the New York Times says. Nor does the NYT have secret info on the safety state of the union....unless its paying for "leaks." Go for it all the way HNS. Americans have your back.
9
We are under attack from terrorism both within and outside of our borders. These men and women are without conscience, and they operate without rules. They despise the United States, because we are a nation of rights, of laws and of freedoms. They have a single mission, and that is our destruction.”
These are the words of homeland security secretary.
Branding his message re. Our safety and the INDISPUTABLE threat from the garden variety of bad guys who bide western civilization I'll-as the NYT does in this article- is not only ill advised. It demonstrates how dismal ( or shall we say: unrealistic) the grasp and correct interpretation of the real threat by the NYT 'S editorial board is.
If, as the boards openly admits, there is a real threat out there, then, instead of calling secretary Kelly's words " incidiary", let them offer some pragmatic solutions to that " real threat".
These are the words of homeland security secretary.
Branding his message re. Our safety and the INDISPUTABLE threat from the garden variety of bad guys who bide western civilization I'll-as the NYT does in this article- is not only ill advised. It demonstrates how dismal ( or shall we say: unrealistic) the grasp and correct interpretation of the real threat by the NYT 'S editorial board is.
If, as the boards openly admits, there is a real threat out there, then, instead of calling secretary Kelly's words " incidiary", let them offer some pragmatic solutions to that " real threat".
3
STop invading other countries and overthrowing their governments. I think that's pragmatic.
That's ALL they've got. " Do what we say, and you'll be safe ". The overwhelming threat for us resides in the White House. Seriously.
36
They? Fearmongering and Statism is bi-partisan.
2
"They despise the United States, because we are a nation of rights, of laws and of freedoms."
Maybe killing all those people in Iraq, Afghanistan and other places in the world, and the support of Hosni Mubarak, The Saudi Kingdom, and let us not forget the support of Saddam Hussein, before he became our enemy, contributed a bit to their dislike of the US?
Maybe killing all those people in Iraq, Afghanistan and other places in the world, and the support of Hosni Mubarak, The Saudi Kingdom, and let us not forget the support of Saddam Hussein, before he became our enemy, contributed a bit to their dislike of the US?
39
Mr. Kelly is right and he has the facts to back it up. On the other hand, the NYTimes can't see through its own war on everything from the WH on down. Your hysteria is so biased, when we need actions that will keep our country safe. In the light of European attacks and a very dangerous world, you're still wailing about anything associated with Trump. I support Mr. Kelly and our elected officials.
10
But actions by the Obama Administration, who you obviously did not support, did keep us safe without the fear mongering of a former general who obviously, like most Republicans, can't see the forest for the trees. When they create Marshall Law where will they imprison the millions of protestors who are exercising their right of assembly under the constitution? Maybe your back yard.
Hold on tight to your guns because the boogie man is coming.
LOL what a crackpot!
LOL what a crackpot!
It is you that are hysterical.
The fact that you don't want to admit it is that we can't stop every possible terrorist attack. That is like asking the police to stop every homicide.
The fact that you don't want to admit it is that we can't stop every possible terrorist attack. That is like asking the police to stop every homicide.
Oh, the things you can convince people to accept if you keep them ignorant and afraid...
33
I cannot be the only person who sees a total disconnect between the Trump regime's attacks on undocumented aliens and outside terrorists "invading" us.
Of the 11 million undocumented, I cannot think of ONE case of terrorism by any of them. Statistically, they produce less violent crime than the rest of the nation. Yet the focus is on them as if SOMEHOW that will stop ISIS/ISIL from infiltrating!
That's just CRAZY! But, then again, so is virtually ever tribalist meme from the Hard Right these days that have been fully embraced by most of the GOP.
Terrorism in the USA is almost entirely home-grown, and vast majority of it, probably 90%, is also from Caucasian men who claim to be "Christian", far more than from radicalized Islamic terrorists. Yes, there have been cases like Orlando, but there was also Charleston, and nothing, NOTHING HSA is doing under General Kelly is working to stop those kinds of slaughters before they happen.
Instead, like the drunk looking for his keys far from where he lost them "because the light's better here", or Rumsfeld justifying attacking Iraq when Afghanistan fostered the 9/11 terrorists because "that's where the hard targets are", Kelly, Trump and the whole GOP take the tribalist approach to spend time and treasure on SCAPEGOATS! Remember what happens in every society when scapegoats become entrenched in the tribalist meme? Genocide! From WWII to Bosnia to Cambodia to Rwanda to Sudan.
Of the 11 million undocumented, I cannot think of ONE case of terrorism by any of them. Statistically, they produce less violent crime than the rest of the nation. Yet the focus is on them as if SOMEHOW that will stop ISIS/ISIL from infiltrating!
That's just CRAZY! But, then again, so is virtually ever tribalist meme from the Hard Right these days that have been fully embraced by most of the GOP.
Terrorism in the USA is almost entirely home-grown, and vast majority of it, probably 90%, is also from Caucasian men who claim to be "Christian", far more than from radicalized Islamic terrorists. Yes, there have been cases like Orlando, but there was also Charleston, and nothing, NOTHING HSA is doing under General Kelly is working to stop those kinds of slaughters before they happen.
Instead, like the drunk looking for his keys far from where he lost them "because the light's better here", or Rumsfeld justifying attacking Iraq when Afghanistan fostered the 9/11 terrorists because "that's where the hard targets are", Kelly, Trump and the whole GOP take the tribalist approach to spend time and treasure on SCAPEGOATS! Remember what happens in every society when scapegoats become entrenched in the tribalist meme? Genocide! From WWII to Bosnia to Cambodia to Rwanda to Sudan.
348
The Orlando Shooter was homegrown. Born a few miles from DJT.
Dear Dadof2 in New Jersey,
You're not alone. We number in the millions and hopefully we will all vote in 2018 and 2020.
Dadof2 in Seattle
You're not alone. We number in the millions and hopefully we will all vote in 2018 and 2020.
Dadof2 in Seattle
Why do the speeches and interviews given by John Kelley, Jeffrey Beauregard Sessions III, Steve Bannon, Reince Priebus and even Pres. Trump all sound as if they were written by a castoff from the writer's room of the old TV show Stalag 13?
Although I've only been around since the days of Eisenhower, at their worst Richard Nixon and Ronald Regan were simply repulsive; I cannot recall them going out of their way to fearmonger their own citizens. Worse, I cannot recall them pointing fingers at specific groups of Americans (and would-be Americans) and shouting "Beware the Others!" loudly in the public square.
This is another sad example of how the Republican Party has become populated by and supported with the help of white racists, xenophobes, and Islamaphobes.
And liars. Nothing John Kelley said in his speech is true.
Although I've only been around since the days of Eisenhower, at their worst Richard Nixon and Ronald Regan were simply repulsive; I cannot recall them going out of their way to fearmonger their own citizens. Worse, I cannot recall them pointing fingers at specific groups of Americans (and would-be Americans) and shouting "Beware the Others!" loudly in the public square.
This is another sad example of how the Republican Party has become populated by and supported with the help of white racists, xenophobes, and Islamaphobes.
And liars. Nothing John Kelley said in his speech is true.
17
Trumpublican talking points memos!
The republican party has become a cult, afraid to criticize their leader.
A government official declaring his intent to enforce laws passed by Congress regarding immigration. Imagine that.
5
"They despise the United States, because we are a nation of rights, of laws and of freedoms."
That old saw again? No, they despise us because they believe we are at war with Islam. And how could they possibly have come by that misconception? Islamphobic remarks like Mr. Kelly's would be just one contributing factor.
That old saw again? No, they despise us because they believe we are at war with Islam. And how could they possibly have come by that misconception? Islamphobic remarks like Mr. Kelly's would be just one contributing factor.
5
If you're here illegally, entered our country illegally or overstayed a visa you should be deported. If you're from a dangerous country you should be denied entry. The H1B Visa program is a scam to allow tech companies to hire cheap labor and hold down wages. The H1B program should be abolished and those Indians and Chinese shown the door. Why are we allowing all these foreign students to attend our universities? They're taking up seats Americans could have. And the when they graduate they don't leave. They overstay their student visas. How does it benefit the U.S. to let all these foreigners in? And don't give me that malarkey about diversity and talent. Look at what the diversity wrought upon us in 1865 has done to America. America 1st.
2
My Irish great-grandparents were part of the diversity c. 1865.
I assume Mr. Tagley's forebears were Native American. They were here 'first.'
Everyone else is a 'foreigner.'
I assume Mr. Tagley's forebears were Native American. They were here 'first.'
Everyone else is a 'foreigner.'
1
I'm not talking about the Irish or any other European group.
WOW. John Kelly says terrorists hate America because of our rights, rules and freedoms. i thought it was because we invade countries that have never harmed us, we bomb innocent groups of people who get in the way and then we shrug. We have a president who justifies, in addition, the killing of terrorists' families. We denigrate entire citizenries because of their ancient faith and culture, we scheme to take their oil, and we drop huge bombs when Trump is having a particularly bad day. Thanks for straightening us out, Mr Kelly, on why certain countries feel threatened by us..
9
They hate us for our freedom...how early 2000's.
It couldn't be because we've dropped bombs and killed untold thousands of people and destabilized a region for generations. No, they hate us because of our freedom.
It couldn't be because we've dropped bombs and killed untold thousands of people and destabilized a region for generations. No, they hate us because of our freedom.
9
Just another attempt to distract public attention from the appalling cruelty and incompetence of this administration.
8
Funny, I read the first paragraph and though for a second that the Times editorial board and come to their senses. Or maybe it was guest writer. But no. More of the same twisted logic where enforcing laws is racist and resisting terror is anti-muslim.
3
The real fear of Mr. Kelly is for his job. The Department of Homeland Security was always a bad joke. Its establishment was part of the huge overreaction in the US after 9/11. So the threat is that one day common sense will come back and the department will be abolished.
5
And how many Americans have died due to lax gun control laws or drug abuse in the last year?
11
More than have died at the hands of terrorists.
Mr Kelly is right. Homeland security has done a pretty good job. As much as persons like Snowden, manning and Assange try to persuade the world that their leaking is a helping to keep us free. Quite the opposite is true. They are aiding and abetting our enemies. North Korea, Russia, Iran, isis etc. all of the mass killers in this country have more than a few screws loose. How can you justify to killing another person in cold blood.
It has been said that the best way to repeal a stupid law is to enforce it vigorously. So if our immigration laws are stupid, perhaps we should be glad that Mr. Kelly wants to enforce them vigorously. Maybe we'll actually get Congress to "fix our broken immigration system."
When we first moved to our semi-rural township we called the police, because we heard gunfire in the woods. We were told that it's a person’s right as long as he’s shooting on his own property.* We often hear long, rapid-fire semiautomatic volleys - not single shots as you might expect from a target shooter or from a hunter sighting in his rifle.
A couple of years ago a mentally ill student killed three of his classmates in the cafeteria of the local high school. We have an alcoholic neighbor, an ex-marine, who goes out in his yard and randomly shoots his guns day and night. Recently, a local resident shot his neighbor’s dog because it was barking.
Yep, well thank God we can sleep soundly at night knowin' we got them smart guys down in Washington going after all them terrorists.
“We have seen the enemy and they is us.” Pogo
*Ohio Revised Code section 504.04 expressly provides that townships may not establish “regulations affecting hunting, trapping, fishing, or the possession, use, or sale of firearms.”
A couple of years ago a mentally ill student killed three of his classmates in the cafeteria of the local high school. We have an alcoholic neighbor, an ex-marine, who goes out in his yard and randomly shoots his guns day and night. Recently, a local resident shot his neighbor’s dog because it was barking.
Yep, well thank God we can sleep soundly at night knowin' we got them smart guys down in Washington going after all them terrorists.
“We have seen the enemy and they is us.” Pogo
*Ohio Revised Code section 504.04 expressly provides that townships may not establish “regulations affecting hunting, trapping, fishing, or the possession, use, or sale of firearms.”
11
"We often hear long, rapid-fire semiautomatic volleys - not single shots as you might expect from a target shooter or from a hunter sighting in his rifle."
As much as I sometimes loathe my beloved Brooklyn, where I was born and have resided for over sixty years, and often want to leave, it is the certainty that I would move to a place like yours, and to have neighbors like yours, that keeps me here.
The localized crazies who move about along Brooklyn streets at least are recognized for what they are; the crazies where you are get to choose presidents and bring their brand of wholesale lunacy home to the rest of us.
As much as I sometimes loathe my beloved Brooklyn, where I was born and have resided for over sixty years, and often want to leave, it is the certainty that I would move to a place like yours, and to have neighbors like yours, that keeps me here.
The localized crazies who move about along Brooklyn streets at least are recognized for what they are; the crazies where you are get to choose presidents and bring their brand of wholesale lunacy home to the rest of us.
Mr. Kelly said members of Congress should have “the courage and the skill to change those laws,” or “shut up and support the men and women on the front lines” of immigration enforcement.
I am with Kelly 100% on that one. Don't fault the man for doing his job.
Also nobody said immigrants are no allowed in this country- They just have to come here legally.
I am with Kelly 100% on that one. Don't fault the man for doing his job.
Also nobody said immigrants are no allowed in this country- They just have to come here legally.
4
No.
Simply stated: People who think and believe like you are the greater threat and enemy to our own citizens.
Simply stated: People who think and believe like you are the greater threat and enemy to our own citizens.
I pray this does not mean a return to Bush's color coded alerts.
2
"they will be living in a paranoid society willing to trade fundamental freedoms and principles for a sense of security." -- This, folks, is how authoritarian regimes form!
6
As a nation, we need to always be on alert for terriost activity because it is the sign of our times. We have done very well since 9/11 but can always improve. The problem is the worst terriost, we have had, not counting 9/11 has come from within. It is our responsibility, for all Americans, to remain alert to prevent new bad acts from happening but treat everyone as an equal. Also, it is wrong to take mothers or fathers, who are illegal, away from the children who are U.S. citizens unless they have committed a violent crime. Congress needs to get together and work on a common sense immigration program for the illegals who are an asset to our society.
6
Not all illegals are "assets to our society" even those who have children who are American citizens.
When you are able to acknowledge and accept that, you can participate in a rational conversation.
When you are able to acknowledge and accept that, you can participate in a rational conversation.
1
This is just the latest Trumpian tirade about "fear of the other," "the barbarians are at the gate" and get out of the way and let us authoritarians handle it. We don't need a man trying to scare us into submission so that perhaps torture can be allowed and any other banned techniques. He has to remember that he works for us in the Department of Homeland Security and not, as he trumpeting, the Department of Homeland Insecurity. He needs to tell us how he's making the nation more secure rather than the reverse.
5
"We have met the enemy and he is us." We are the bullies now,to people who are living quietly,just trying to eke out a living and give their children a better life,illegal or not. We felt safe with Obama as president but now,with no one we can respect in charge, we are afraid. It is not the illegal immigrants we should be afraid of but people like Trump,Sessions,Kelly ,and a republican congress who are trying to replace democracy with authoritarian tactics. One needs only to look to the 1930s to see how easily this can be accomplished.
7
Homeland Security is the US's version of the Gestapo and this is evidently encouraged under Kelly's leadership. Also, why was Homeland Security removing protestors from an FCC meeting? The protestors were American citizens. Again, the new Gestapo has come to town.
7
" These men and women are without conscience, and they operate without rules. They despise the United States, because we are a nation of rights, of laws and of freedoms. They have a single mission, and that is our destruction.”
This is an accurate description of how I feel about Trump and his gang.
This is an accurate description of how I feel about Trump and his gang.
14
"They despise the United States, because we are a nation of rights, of laws and of freedoms."
Nope.
They despise us because of specific actions we take in the Middle East and elsewhere in the Islamic world. Even the great egotist and terrorist bin Laden said as much, as have real experts in terrorism.
We cannot have a rational debate when one side spouts either ignorance or deliberate lies. And that means you, Mr. Kelly.
Nope.
They despise us because of specific actions we take in the Middle East and elsewhere in the Islamic world. Even the great egotist and terrorist bin Laden said as much, as have real experts in terrorism.
We cannot have a rational debate when one side spouts either ignorance or deliberate lies. And that means you, Mr. Kelly.
14
When Newton wrote that "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction," he clearly wasn't anticipating the Trump administration.
Since 1975 (so including 9/11), 74 Americans have been killed per year (on average) by foreign terrorists (of any kind). Post 9/11, that number is 1 per year, 6 if you include foreign and domestic terrorists.
At the same time, well over 1,000 women are killed every year in domestic violence episodes.
So for the risk factor with small numbers, having already drained our country of so much blood and treasure, we will now sacrifice our most precious liberties. So a slightly unequal reaction.
And for the issue that is far more deadly, we will do nothing. No former generals speaking out. Nothing said by a President with an abominable past on women's issues and sexual assault. We'll do nothing, or less than nothing.
Since 1975 (so including 9/11), 74 Americans have been killed per year (on average) by foreign terrorists (of any kind). Post 9/11, that number is 1 per year, 6 if you include foreign and domestic terrorists.
At the same time, well over 1,000 women are killed every year in domestic violence episodes.
So for the risk factor with small numbers, having already drained our country of so much blood and treasure, we will now sacrifice our most precious liberties. So a slightly unequal reaction.
And for the issue that is far more deadly, we will do nothing. No former generals speaking out. Nothing said by a President with an abominable past on women's issues and sexual assault. We'll do nothing, or less than nothing.
13
There are many dangers confronting us. It is reasonable to be concerned about unbalanced individuals who, inspired by visions of jihad, stage suicide attacks. But my fear that these individuals are about to overthrow the constitution and impose Sharia law is nil.
My worry - the one that literally keeps me up at night - is that a vindictive demagogue has commandeered our government, surrounded himself with sanctimonious minions who believe they have the right to violate the Constitution, substitute paranoid fantasies and myths for science-based facts and seek to transform our nation into a bellicose plutocracy, and convinced a minority segment of the population that he alone can fix the economy and moral character of the nation.
My worry - the one that literally keeps me up at night - is that a vindictive demagogue has commandeered our government, surrounded himself with sanctimonious minions who believe they have the right to violate the Constitution, substitute paranoid fantasies and myths for science-based facts and seek to transform our nation into a bellicose plutocracy, and convinced a minority segment of the population that he alone can fix the economy and moral character of the nation.
4
This is all Trump talk, Trump tricks. They promise the audience that the key threats to our nation are from outsiders, foreigners, "darkies."
So, let's review again the names of the most deadly terrorists in the US (apart from the 9/11 bombers, many of them Saudi Arabian ... the Saudis are our allies because they buy lots of fighter planes).
Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols (Oklahoma City bombing). Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold (Columbine ... the first well-publicized school shooting). Adam Lanza (Sandy Hook Elementary School). Dylann Roof (white supremacist, Charleston church shooting). All white guys.
And let us not forget the many abusive men who, daily, threaten their girlfriends and wives, often with guns.
There's terrorism. There's terror. According to the American Psychology Association, each day three or more women in the US are murdered by their boyfriends or husbands. It's called Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). "More than half of all women killed by intimate partners between 2001 to 2012 were killed with guns," according to the Center for American Progress.
We want homeland security? Let's begin with gun-control. Self-examination. A serious acknowledgment of widespread domestic abuse.
Donald Trump, Steve Bannon, Andrew Puzder (Trump's first pick for Labor Secretary), Roger Ailes (Fox News), and Bill O'Reilly (Fox News) have all been accused of abusing women. And they have, or had, a lot of power.
That's insecurity.
So, let's review again the names of the most deadly terrorists in the US (apart from the 9/11 bombers, many of them Saudi Arabian ... the Saudis are our allies because they buy lots of fighter planes).
Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols (Oklahoma City bombing). Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold (Columbine ... the first well-publicized school shooting). Adam Lanza (Sandy Hook Elementary School). Dylann Roof (white supremacist, Charleston church shooting). All white guys.
And let us not forget the many abusive men who, daily, threaten their girlfriends and wives, often with guns.
There's terrorism. There's terror. According to the American Psychology Association, each day three or more women in the US are murdered by their boyfriends or husbands. It's called Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). "More than half of all women killed by intimate partners between 2001 to 2012 were killed with guns," according to the Center for American Progress.
We want homeland security? Let's begin with gun-control. Self-examination. A serious acknowledgment of widespread domestic abuse.
Donald Trump, Steve Bannon, Andrew Puzder (Trump's first pick for Labor Secretary), Roger Ailes (Fox News), and Bill O'Reilly (Fox News) have all been accused of abusing women. And they have, or had, a lot of power.
That's insecurity.
3
There are 300 million guns in the hands of Americans, and those are the league ones that are registered. It's obvious that there isn't that much hunting going on so long as meat can be bought along with guns at Walmart. This suggests that a lot of people may be living in fear of their own Government rather than terrorists while amassing a small arms arsenal.
Security is necessary but taking ones shoes off at the airport and looking up grandmas dress isn't going to keep us safe. It's a farce at best.
We have a fear industry in America which has been building after the heinous events of September 11, 2001. The Government ignored the warning signs and now we are heading towards a police state where everyone becomes a suspect based upon the color of your skin, the spelling of your name, where you came from or what faith you practice. We will survive this because we are Americans.
Security is necessary but taking ones shoes off at the airport and looking up grandmas dress isn't going to keep us safe. It's a farce at best.
We have a fear industry in America which has been building after the heinous events of September 11, 2001. The Government ignored the warning signs and now we are heading towards a police state where everyone becomes a suspect based upon the color of your skin, the spelling of your name, where you came from or what faith you practice. We will survive this because we are Americans.
1
When the Department of Homeland Security was first set up post 9/11 I began to worry. Homeland. Heimat. Are the Nazis coming back? Over time my worry tended to increase. It's starting to peak now. I am a lot more frightened over Homeland Security than I am over the enemies it sees out there. The enemy inside is, I fear, infinitely the more dangerous. Like cancer is worse than ticks and fleas.
3
How many years have passed, and you worried with King Obama in charge???
I for one would feel much safer if our Homeland Security folks spent more time focusing on homegrown alt-right, and other white power protagonists than immigrants. They are once again creating a self-fulfilling prophecy.
4
And the way the trump conducts meetings with governent officials in the middle of a public restaurant while reading classified briefs by the light of his cell phone.
Once all those darn immigrants are forcefully removed from our country, we just might find out their true value. Most of the immigrants work at some menial job. Just who do they think is going to take care of our fields, hotel rooms and hard menial construction work once the immigrants are gone? How much will our fruits and vegetables cost, once the migrant workers are gone and Americans are used to replace the hard manual labor (for more money of course)? How much will hotel rooms cost once they are maintained by Americans (who will cost more)? It is like none of these hateful clowns in the Trump administration have thought patterns, but I guess we are getting used to the farce.
4
Automation, unemployed individuals, and we will have to go back to doing some things for ourselves. I could afford to have my lawn taken care of, but I do it myself.
Kelly's comment that "They despise the United States, because we are a nation of rights, of laws and of freedoms" is designed to prepare us for a shift in foreign policy.
This tactic is right out of pysy-opps, something the general knows well. Americans oppose more Middle East wars so fear is being used to overcome this opposition. The ominous "they are out to destroy us" is right from the Dick Chenney's lie machine. It worked in 2003, why not now?
Syria and Yemen are the first targets, then Somalia (in the guise of supporting that government). Libya is a possibility, though the ultimate target is Iran. These are the remaining countries cited for 'regime change' from the neocons at the Project for a New America.
Even more sinister than these undeclared, endless wars is the secondary goal of depopulation. The region's value is its oil, not its people. Elements of our government are willing to pursue the same 'land not people' policies that Nazi Germany did in Eastern Europe in 1942.
We've killed at least 2 million Iraqi's and Syria has already lost 20% of its population from death and displacement. But oil production continues. Our goal is control not the occupation. And control is much easier with smaller populations throughly demoralized by years of war.
Yes, there are people in our government who sit and calculate the deaths of millions of people to 'advance American Interests,' and do so in our name. Photos of dead babies will not stop this machine. Wake up America
This tactic is right out of pysy-opps, something the general knows well. Americans oppose more Middle East wars so fear is being used to overcome this opposition. The ominous "they are out to destroy us" is right from the Dick Chenney's lie machine. It worked in 2003, why not now?
Syria and Yemen are the first targets, then Somalia (in the guise of supporting that government). Libya is a possibility, though the ultimate target is Iran. These are the remaining countries cited for 'regime change' from the neocons at the Project for a New America.
Even more sinister than these undeclared, endless wars is the secondary goal of depopulation. The region's value is its oil, not its people. Elements of our government are willing to pursue the same 'land not people' policies that Nazi Germany did in Eastern Europe in 1942.
We've killed at least 2 million Iraqi's and Syria has already lost 20% of its population from death and displacement. But oil production continues. Our goal is control not the occupation. And control is much easier with smaller populations throughly demoralized by years of war.
Yes, there are people in our government who sit and calculate the deaths of millions of people to 'advance American Interests,' and do so in our name. Photos of dead babies will not stop this machine. Wake up America
3
Time will tell, but to me your ideas are foolish. We could have easily controlled the oil in Iraq, instead we tried to help the people (at least we though so). So if we started a Kurd state, stole the oil and told the rest to take a hike what could they have done? Nothing much militarily.
1
"They despise the United States, because we are a nation of rights, of laws and of freedoms."
So here we are back at the Bush paradigm. What a proven load of hogwash. The one freedom all of America seems to be behind is the right to drone strike at will, create all manner of collateral death and destruction and then expect no blowback from people with no power. Maybe it's time to stop taking a bat to the hornet's nest.
So here we are back at the Bush paradigm. What a proven load of hogwash. The one freedom all of America seems to be behind is the right to drone strike at will, create all manner of collateral death and destruction and then expect no blowback from people with no power. Maybe it's time to stop taking a bat to the hornet's nest.
7
The last line of the editorial is a perfect summary of the objective of speeches like these, and like those of the President and the Attorney General -- to stoke a misbegotten sense of fear that will create an atmosphere in which rights can continue to be eroded.
Unlike FDR, who fought fear with optimism, Trump and his administration fight civility and common sense with fear. Let's not be duped.
One final note: sadly, the media continue to play into the hands of the fear mongers with their "if it bleeds, it leads" approach. Two cops are shot in Paris, and the assailant is quickly dealt with. This is a low-level annoyance to society as a whole -- though a tragedy to the policemen involved -- yet it's treated as an existential threat in the headlines. This simply makes no sense, and needs to be corrected through coverage leavened with proportionality and common sense.
Unlike FDR, who fought fear with optimism, Trump and his administration fight civility and common sense with fear. Let's not be duped.
One final note: sadly, the media continue to play into the hands of the fear mongers with their "if it bleeds, it leads" approach. Two cops are shot in Paris, and the assailant is quickly dealt with. This is a low-level annoyance to society as a whole -- though a tragedy to the policemen involved -- yet it's treated as an existential threat in the headlines. This simply makes no sense, and needs to be corrected through coverage leavened with proportionality and common sense.
5
Growing up when I did (1950s and 1960s), I got a very good dose of 20th-century European history in elementary and high school, not to mention on the four TV networks as part of their education requirements to keep their FCC licenses. I also have European family members who survived the period.
From this background, I was suspicious of the "Department of Homeland Security" from the get-go. The architects of our Iraq policy used 9/11 to enact the "USA PATRIOT" Act in haste to make everyone a potential terrorist, and established the unworkable behemoth now known as "Homeland Security" combining various government agencies in the same haste.
A knowledge of the events leading up to World War II, and literature/film, gives me a good understanding of the REAL purpose of "Homeland Security"--fearmongering to keep Americans in line. Think of the Reichstag Fire (1933) exploited by enabling acts written to strangle the last vestiges of the Weimar Republic and set up a police state. Think of the title of Graham Greene's novel "Ministry of Fear" (1943) and you've got "Homeland Security."
From this background, I was suspicious of the "Department of Homeland Security" from the get-go. The architects of our Iraq policy used 9/11 to enact the "USA PATRIOT" Act in haste to make everyone a potential terrorist, and established the unworkable behemoth now known as "Homeland Security" combining various government agencies in the same haste.
A knowledge of the events leading up to World War II, and literature/film, gives me a good understanding of the REAL purpose of "Homeland Security"--fearmongering to keep Americans in line. Think of the Reichstag Fire (1933) exploited by enabling acts written to strangle the last vestiges of the Weimar Republic and set up a police state. Think of the title of Graham Greene's novel "Ministry of Fear" (1943) and you've got "Homeland Security."
5
Remember the ridiculous color-coded alerts of the Bush era? We were constantly warned of red alerts - with absolutely no guidance on what one should do to avoid danger. These were part of a campaign to further terrify the public after 9/11, and mysteriously lessened greatly after the election. Perhaps the current administration considers ramping up the fear quotient to be a good distraction to scandal and incompetence, while encouraging the public to accept a hidden agenda of immigrant and Muslin bashing. John Kelly is a particularly heartless and cynical example of the group currently running the country. This, too, shall pass.
3
Anyone who would state, as Mr. Kelly does, that America is as vulnerable to attack today as it was before 9/11 is acknowledging the utter waste and ineffectiveness of the many billions of dollars in direct spending and further billions in consequential productivity costs incurred in the US response to that traumatic event. That he goes on to defend and promote the Department of Homeland Security, the principal bureaucratic legacy, of U.S. 9/11 response reveals a primitive and obtuse intellect, wholly unfit to lead any organization of consequence. Fear mongering and "othering" is the manipulative tool of choice for tyrants. It will be increasingly the common sermon of Trump and his minions.
4
Not really, our enemy is highly adaptable, and we allow people into our country who should never be here.
2
Tell me again why its such a good thing that Trump has all these Generals in key positions. Is it to balance out the money grubbers and rank idealogues who occupy the other positions? To help us keep track of our Armadas when they are at sea? I fail to be comforted. Gen. Kelly in particular is a very scary individual. He seems to have tunnel vision and only one gear. Perhaps these are qualities that make one a useful tool as a General, but they are sadly short of the mark in a leader who must develop, interpret and apply policies in a difficult area that bumps up against the boundaries of our decency as a nation. Kelly seems to embody the mission statement of one of his subgroups, the border patrol. He too seems to view himself as the "shield that guards the realms of men." Winter is indeed coming.
6
I remember a meeting long ago in Europe where we were briefed by someone from the FBI over terrorism. He was visiting various Headquarters of our Military in Europe during the time of the Red Brigades and others who were already targeting Americans on the Continent and was discussing security and other related issues.
He said quite plainly "When terrorism comes to America" not if, it would have a profound effect on our nation as we have always thought ourselves insulated from the squabbles of the rest of the world. I remembered his talk as I watched 9-11 unfold on my TV screen on a day off- having turned on the TV just about 10 minutes before it all started.
Our country changed that day far more than we realized at the time and probably more than we would admit even today. We traded our liberty for a false sense of security in life, in law and at the ballot box- rejecting candidates that said we did not need to be in Iraq and embracing Bush and Cheney's War without end. We allowed ourselves to be fondled by security officers, exposed unnecessarily to Radiation and took our shoes off for security theater. We as a nation did not express outrage at torture one in our name.
Homeland Security is an agency all too ready to trample the rights of citizens. Why were Fusion Centers used against Occupy Wall Street? Why were journalists like Amy Goodman arrested for no reason at the Republican Convention? They do not make me feel safe, they make me concerned for my country.
He said quite plainly "When terrorism comes to America" not if, it would have a profound effect on our nation as we have always thought ourselves insulated from the squabbles of the rest of the world. I remembered his talk as I watched 9-11 unfold on my TV screen on a day off- having turned on the TV just about 10 minutes before it all started.
Our country changed that day far more than we realized at the time and probably more than we would admit even today. We traded our liberty for a false sense of security in life, in law and at the ballot box- rejecting candidates that said we did not need to be in Iraq and embracing Bush and Cheney's War without end. We allowed ourselves to be fondled by security officers, exposed unnecessarily to Radiation and took our shoes off for security theater. We as a nation did not express outrage at torture one in our name.
Homeland Security is an agency all too ready to trample the rights of citizens. Why were Fusion Centers used against Occupy Wall Street? Why were journalists like Amy Goodman arrested for no reason at the Republican Convention? They do not make me feel safe, they make me concerned for my country.
6
While his tone was harsh one thing Kelley was right about is that the Congress is really the only place where immigration laws can be changed.
Until Congress acts the law is what it is. There were plenty of deportations under Obama as well. If people want the law changed they need to pressure Congress.
Until Congress acts the law is what it is. There were plenty of deportations under Obama as well. If people want the law changed they need to pressure Congress.
2
I might want the law changed if they could make a system to remove many undesirable illegals, greatly restrain immigration, and then give some currently here legal residence and for some a path to be a citizen. They already have such through the military.
1
Before serving in a Senate confirmable civilian position a military officer must normally be out of uniform for 7 years unless there is a Congressional waiver. Maintaining the principle of civilian military control has been a concern since the birth of the republic as military careers are often converted into elective office political advantage.
Before the Trump administration came to power the only military officer since World War II to ever receive such a waiver was General George C. Marshall. Marshall along with Dwight D. Eisenhower played a key role in winning World War II and sustaining the post-war peace. Neither John Kelly as Secretary of Homeland Security nor Secretary of Defense James Mattis, both of whom received such Congressional waivers, could ever be confused with a Marshall or an Eisenhower in war and peace.
And unfortunately the Commander -in-Chief of the American armed forces and the man with primary responsibility for maintaining our American domestic and national security is President of the United States of America Donald John Trump. Trump who never served in either the military or any public government service is an incredible ignorant stupid liar. Thus Trump is the reigning Mar-a-Lago Fear Monger -in-Chief..
Before the Trump administration came to power the only military officer since World War II to ever receive such a waiver was General George C. Marshall. Marshall along with Dwight D. Eisenhower played a key role in winning World War II and sustaining the post-war peace. Neither John Kelly as Secretary of Homeland Security nor Secretary of Defense James Mattis, both of whom received such Congressional waivers, could ever be confused with a Marshall or an Eisenhower in war and peace.
And unfortunately the Commander -in-Chief of the American armed forces and the man with primary responsibility for maintaining our American domestic and national security is President of the United States of America Donald John Trump. Trump who never served in either the military or any public government service is an incredible ignorant stupid liar. Thus Trump is the reigning Mar-a-Lago Fear Monger -in-Chief..
10
Security is made out of two parts: psychological and real.
You can improve the sense of security by showing visible reassuring actions and not fearmongering. And you can improve real security by implementing more defense systems (border controls, intelligence gathering, etc.) and by deactivating potential threats (throw some tomahawks, etc.).
So I would recommend: apply effective defensive measures, do not mess with foreign countries unless you know what you are doing, and keep calm. Otherwise, you'd better shut up.
You can improve the sense of security by showing visible reassuring actions and not fearmongering. And you can improve real security by implementing more defense systems (border controls, intelligence gathering, etc.) and by deactivating potential threats (throw some tomahawks, etc.).
So I would recommend: apply effective defensive measures, do not mess with foreign countries unless you know what you are doing, and keep calm. Otherwise, you'd better shut up.
3
If we continue to allow unfettered Muslim immigration, the US will be under constant attack just as they are in France and other parts of Europe.
We should take a closer look at Australia's immigration playbook. The only country that is being realistic about the future. And that future is not what it used to be.
We should take a closer look at Australia's immigration playbook. The only country that is being realistic about the future. And that future is not what it used to be.
3
Anyone who has read Ian Kershaw's To Hell and Back about Europe from 1914 to 1949 will find Kelly's rhetoric reminiscent of fascists' and ultra-nationalists' of that dangerous period. In the past leaders like Eisenhower, Truman, Dole, Ford, and, yes, even Nixon kept people who espoused such extremist beliefs locked in the attic--and a million miles away from the reins of power. America is an experiment. Every generation is called upon to protect and preserve. It's our time.
5
The age old technique of fledgling authoritarian regimes to secure power and exercise it over a population is fear - fear and secrecy. While the present administration may be less adept than previous ones in masking its repressive objectives, the sad truth is that inducing fear in our population to achieve political goals is nothing new.
5
Hermann Goering said it was easy to get people to do their leaders' bidding, even in a democracy. Tell them they are being attacked and then proclaim that the pacifists and naysayers are being unpatriotic by not getting in line.
So telling us we are not safe (we know that) and to shut up and let the new government do its job by being in control---well, that’s a start in the wrong direction, isn't it.
So telling us we are not safe (we know that) and to shut up and let the new government do its job by being in control---well, that’s a start in the wrong direction, isn't it.
7
We are being set up for the establishment of a totalitarian state. It is happening slowly but surely at the moment under right-wing rule. If (when) a more serious terror event happens in the continental US the bottom of our democratic underpinnings will collapse. Read David Brooks today.
7
If you actually believe that please leave our country. Such is impossible, nobody in the middle of the country would put up with that and they have guns. Now progressives want to tell everyone what to do they might do this.
3
Suggest reading Sinclair Lewis's "It Can't Happen Here." Or the origins of the federal Espionage Act of 1917 and the McCarran Act of 1950. Or the Star Chamber that was the House Un-American Activities Committee.
3
Mr. Kelly is perfectly placed for Trump's needs. The more that this administration can obfuscate and deny the fact that Trump and his minions are incompetent and beset by serious conflicts of interest the easier it becomes for them to ruin the country and then, as a secondary effect, demonize every outsider they can.
Why allocate money to upgrade or repair roads when we might be attacked 9/11 style? Why bother with projects like improving Amtrak or seeing to it that different law enforcement agencies across America can communicate with each other in an emergency? It's better to toss out all the immigrants under the claim of their dangerousness to America rather than create jobs by starting and completing projects that will increase our safety economically and physically. Then again, given how extravagant Trump and his minions are with our money, it may be a blessing if we wind up with unpaved roads again because they won't want to visit us where we live.
Why allocate money to upgrade or repair roads when we might be attacked 9/11 style? Why bother with projects like improving Amtrak or seeing to it that different law enforcement agencies across America can communicate with each other in an emergency? It's better to toss out all the immigrants under the claim of their dangerousness to America rather than create jobs by starting and completing projects that will increase our safety economically and physically. Then again, given how extravagant Trump and his minions are with our money, it may be a blessing if we wind up with unpaved roads again because they won't want to visit us where we live.
3
The following is from Mr. Kelly’s remarks. “They despise the United States, because we are a nation of rights, of laws and of freedoms. They have a single mission, and that is our destruction.”
Actually, no. They despise the United States because we have been relentlessly bombing countless countries in the region for more than a decade. They despise us because we have overthrown governments in Iraq and Libya and chaos has ensued. They despise us because we have supported corrupt governments for decades longer. They despise us because we have backed proxy wars in the region.
The bottom line is that they despise us because we are there. And none of our actions have improved the lives of the people in the region. Maybe if we harnessed in our hubris and recognized that there are no American solutions to the problems in the region, life in the region would eventually improve and we wouldn’t be targets for terrorists.
Actually, no. They despise the United States because we have been relentlessly bombing countless countries in the region for more than a decade. They despise us because we have overthrown governments in Iraq and Libya and chaos has ensued. They despise us because we have supported corrupt governments for decades longer. They despise us because we have backed proxy wars in the region.
The bottom line is that they despise us because we are there. And none of our actions have improved the lives of the people in the region. Maybe if we harnessed in our hubris and recognized that there are no American solutions to the problems in the region, life in the region would eventually improve and we wouldn’t be targets for terrorists.
614
And the Russians, any different?
Nope the Afghanistans are loathing U S because of all the horrible things that have happened in their country by the US presence there and "assistance"!
True, but actually we have been messing with their countries for more than 70 years. The CIA fomented coups in Syria in 1949 and in Iran in 1953, and it goes on from there. Before that was the era of European and American supported colonialism in the Arab world. Hundreds of civilians are killed each week in Syria and Iraq by American weapons. Insanity heaped upon insanity. And we think "they" are out to get "us" for our freedoms???
Mr. Kelly is 100% correct. We are under attack.
The NSA is collecting everything we say and do. The INS, ATF, and SWAT teams across the nation are trampling on civil rights. Our neighborhood police forces have become militarized, and Homeland Security is weaponizing them all.
You will learn to behave and you will like it!
The NSA is collecting everything we say and do. The INS, ATF, and SWAT teams across the nation are trampling on civil rights. Our neighborhood police forces have become militarized, and Homeland Security is weaponizing them all.
You will learn to behave and you will like it!
7
Since 9/11, foreign-born terrorists have killed roughly one American per year.
So if this is the case why such widespread fear and apprehension in the United States?
Two primary reasons:
1. The news media loves the visuals of a ongoing terrorist attack. They have a virtual cottage industry of commentators on 24 hour call ready to analyze every aspect of the unfolding drama. It is a supercharged revenue enhancer.
2. As Michael Moore pointed out decades ago; fear is the number one calling card for the Republican Party. Nothing turns out white voters more than a healthy dose of fear mongering. Trump rode that factor to the White House. Now we have fear of Syrian chemical attacks, fear of a nuclear strike by North Korea, and fear of Iran violating the nuclear deal (they haven't).
So if this is the case why such widespread fear and apprehension in the United States?
Two primary reasons:
1. The news media loves the visuals of a ongoing terrorist attack. They have a virtual cottage industry of commentators on 24 hour call ready to analyze every aspect of the unfolding drama. It is a supercharged revenue enhancer.
2. As Michael Moore pointed out decades ago; fear is the number one calling card for the Republican Party. Nothing turns out white voters more than a healthy dose of fear mongering. Trump rode that factor to the White House. Now we have fear of Syrian chemical attacks, fear of a nuclear strike by North Korea, and fear of Iran violating the nuclear deal (they haven't).
8
“We are in fact a nation under attack.”
It's called blow-back, caused by our bombing and invading so many countries far away.
And, the "they hate us for our freedoms" canard would be funny if not so wrong.
It's called blow-back, caused by our bombing and invading so many countries far away.
And, the "they hate us for our freedoms" canard would be funny if not so wrong.
8
these are not immigrants, they are criminals that came into a country illegally. Immigrants are people that apply to come into the country using that countries process for immigration.
Lets say I just come into your house uninvited, am I a welcome guest, or a criminal that you would call 911 to have removed?
Lets say I just come into your house uninvited, am I a welcome guest, or a criminal that you would call 911 to have removed?
No, they came here legally. And only then radicalized.
Sorry for this intrusion of facts.
Sorry for this intrusion of facts.
2
We Americans don't know what's good for us, with Mr. Kelly being one example to fear terrorism at home first, led by the president and Republican Congress who together pose a greater threat and are doing more damage than Osama bin Laden ever dreamed.
4
Why do the media keep calling the clowns working for Trump (like Kelly) "adults"? He's not an adult.
I wish the media (other than (NYT) would grow up and be adult.
I wish the media (other than (NYT) would grow up and be adult.
1
This is the NYT at its best – factually solid, analytically sharp, politically unbending and morally prophetic. From Israel, what I can add is that fearmongering rules only after those who were seen as the harbingers of hope (Rabin in Israel, Obama in the U.S) have either been eliminated or abrogated their pronounced mission. And once fearmongering, especially of the existential kind, enters the national zeitgeist, it becomes the most efficient, pervasive and enduring political tool.
3
“They despise the United States, because we are a nation of rights, of laws and of freedoms.”
That’s such hogwash from General Kelly. People around the world don’t despite the US because of our rights, laws and freedoms but because we keep killing people, either in the name “war on terror” or other excuses. Those people understandably do despise us.
In 2014, Andrew Bacevich, military historian and former U.S. Army Colonel in a Washington Post op-ed, “Even if we defeat the Islamic State, we’ll still lose the bigger war,” said this:
“… Syria has become at least the 14th country in the Islamic world that U.S. forces have invaded or occupied or bombed, and in which American soldiers have killed or been killed. And that’s just since 1980.
“Let’s tick them off: Iran (1980, 1987-1988), Libya (1981, 1986, 1989, 2011), Lebanon (1983), Kuwait (1991), Iraq (1991-2011, 2014-), Somalia (1992-1993, 2007-), Bosnia (1995), Saudi Arabia (1991, 1996), Afghanistan (1998, 2001-), Sudan (1998), Kosovo (1999), Yemen (2000, 2002-), Pakistan (2004-) and now Syria. Whew.”
Whew, indeed!
The sad fact is that bin Laden succeeded in dragging the US into a “war or terror” that has cost us many billions, many lives and the scorn of a many people around the world.
The sadder fact is it needn’t be that way. The US was held in higher regard, when JFK said, “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
That’s such hogwash from General Kelly. People around the world don’t despite the US because of our rights, laws and freedoms but because we keep killing people, either in the name “war on terror” or other excuses. Those people understandably do despise us.
In 2014, Andrew Bacevich, military historian and former U.S. Army Colonel in a Washington Post op-ed, “Even if we defeat the Islamic State, we’ll still lose the bigger war,” said this:
“… Syria has become at least the 14th country in the Islamic world that U.S. forces have invaded or occupied or bombed, and in which American soldiers have killed or been killed. And that’s just since 1980.
“Let’s tick them off: Iran (1980, 1987-1988), Libya (1981, 1986, 1989, 2011), Lebanon (1983), Kuwait (1991), Iraq (1991-2011, 2014-), Somalia (1992-1993, 2007-), Bosnia (1995), Saudi Arabia (1991, 1996), Afghanistan (1998, 2001-), Sudan (1998), Kosovo (1999), Yemen (2000, 2002-), Pakistan (2004-) and now Syria. Whew.”
Whew, indeed!
The sad fact is that bin Laden succeeded in dragging the US into a “war or terror” that has cost us many billions, many lives and the scorn of a many people around the world.
The sadder fact is it needn’t be that way. The US was held in higher regard, when JFK said, “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
7
"“Make no mistake,” he said Tuesday during a speech at George Washington University. “We are in fact a nation under attack.”
Mr. Kelly is entirely correct. We are under attack from a fanatical right-wing cult, run by an infantile narcissist only focused on raking in money, and in league with Russia.
Mr. Kelly is entirely correct. We are under attack from a fanatical right-wing cult, run by an infantile narcissist only focused on raking in money, and in league with Russia.
6
Buffalo Springfield are needed now! Something happening here, stop listen what's that sound? everybody look what's going down...
3
This is a broken record by these anti-American Republicans. Remember when GW was up for re-election, the number of times speakers mentioned "terror" or "terrorists" at the convention was infinite. It worked.
Look, Kelly is a former general. His statement "“We are in fact a nation under attack" is designed to create Marshall law or some version of it. That's what these clowns want. This is what those angry white voters gave us, well as well as no health care, subjugation of women and minorities, a bankrupt government, and WWIII. I forgot no internet except for the rich, polluted water and air...
Look, Kelly is a former general. His statement "“We are in fact a nation under attack" is designed to create Marshall law or some version of it. That's what these clowns want. This is what those angry white voters gave us, well as well as no health care, subjugation of women and minorities, a bankrupt government, and WWIII. I forgot no internet except for the rich, polluted water and air...
3
The United States has lost its footing: it's out of balance. Witness Trump, witness Kelly.
What frightens me more is the simple fact that we have no place to turn. The Republican led Congress is standing behind these fear mongers and it is easy to wonder if we will survive four years of it. Politics are turning this country into a septic tank.
What frightens me more is the simple fact that we have no place to turn. The Republican led Congress is standing behind these fear mongers and it is easy to wonder if we will survive four years of it. Politics are turning this country into a septic tank.
29
Actually, Kelly's comments are the military industrial complex's marketing scheme. This pitch helps facilitate the further gutting of the social safety net in favor of exponentially increasing the budget deficit and paying defense contractors. Kelly professes that the 'first line of defense' is his mandate when really it's the 'bottom line' that he's guided by. No doubt this guy will make a great lobbyist some day!
Security from terrorism is serious business. Obama's administration honored that mandate. The absence of a foreign spawned attack on American soil in the last 8 yrs. was no accident or luck. America was protected. However, extolling the last President's job is not good for business in the era of Trump. The real fear is that these crony-crats will be inhumane, incompetent, and provoke more attacks. People seeking to realize their self fulfilling prophecies should not be in power. War is good for business and we are all being groomed as "marks" to abet this. Kelly needs to just do his job, quietly.
Security from terrorism is serious business. Obama's administration honored that mandate. The absence of a foreign spawned attack on American soil in the last 8 yrs. was no accident or luck. America was protected. However, extolling the last President's job is not good for business in the era of Trump. The real fear is that these crony-crats will be inhumane, incompetent, and provoke more attacks. People seeking to realize their self fulfilling prophecies should not be in power. War is good for business and we are all being groomed as "marks" to abet this. Kelly needs to just do his job, quietly.
15
As I said above, another attack will be able to give them Marshall Law, and eliminate constitutional protections for assembly. They'll simply arrest all the protestors. Where they'll lock millions up is a mystery. Inquiring minds want to know.
1
Kelly's remarks reflect a "bunker mentality" that is prevalent at Homeland Security. A narrowminded focus on threats that are no larger than internal threats from gangs, corporate crooks, mortgage manipulators, etc. If anyone focused on just those malfeasances you wouldn't want to come out of your house either. If he is allowed to run free range over the landscape we won't be having a debate or discussion about free trade, tariffs, etc. The only job creation will be at Homeland Security.
9
Sadly, many people around the world have been quite fearful of the US for the last two decades. We rove the world, ousting leaders and governments who do not tow the line or provide us with oil, with complete impunity. The trail of destroyed towns, villages and societies is long, sad and full of despair. At the same time, Americans kill each other on hometown streets at an alarming rate, yet little is done to stop it. Every single day, more Americans are killed inside our borders by Americans than outside. There is no other society on earth that is so at ease with endless killing. Sounds like collective insanity, to me, for which there appears to be no therapy available.
13
We are not despised because "we are a nation of rights, laws, and freedoms," we are despised because we send our military into other countries to "protect our interests." Nobody in the Middle East (or anywhere) cares what rights, laws, and freedoms we have in the U.S., as long as we keep it to ourselves. The unwelcome presence of our military in Saudi Arabia is what prompted Osama Bin Laden to destroy the Twin Towers, not our "freedoms."
19
So much for relying on the military men in the cabinet to rein in Trump's excesses. Maybe we should be more afraid that those "adults" lost an aircraft carrier group?
6
"Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"--inalienable rights listed in the Declaration of Independence.
Free exercise of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom to peaceably to assemble and petition the government for a redress of grievances--the first amendment to the Constitution
Freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, freedom from fear--the four freedoms of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
How do Mr. Kelly's words or actions (or Mr. Trump's for that matter) match up with these freedoms? Not well at all, I fear.
Free exercise of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom to peaceably to assemble and petition the government for a redress of grievances--the first amendment to the Constitution
Freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, freedom from fear--the four freedoms of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
How do Mr. Kelly's words or actions (or Mr. Trump's for that matter) match up with these freedoms? Not well at all, I fear.
14
They despise America for its actions and attitudes outside America. America is a nation of rights and laws that are guaranteed only to the American border. Outside, the Constitution has no force, is no restraint on our action: America's "natural" rights only apply to the few.
Make friends and show respect for others, or build big armies and walls; but when you choose only the latter, don't complain about being disliked.
But ask yourself, does the image Trump projects of America make us safer?
Make friends and show respect for others, or build big armies and walls; but when you choose only the latter, don't complain about being disliked.
But ask yourself, does the image Trump projects of America make us safer?
14
"If Americans take his discourse at face value, they will be living in a paranoid society willing to trade fundamental freedoms and principles for a sense of security."
We're already there, as demonstrated by Trump's election.
We're already there, as demonstrated by Trump's election.
8
This is why democracies keep the military out of civilian government. But of course Trump would be dazzled by that uniform and bearing, and even more so by the apocalyptic movie rhetoric.
Who would ever guess, listening to Kelly, that the U.S. is responsible for hundreds of thousands of civilian deaths in the region and that its policies couldn't be described as selfless?
Who would ever guess, listening to Kelly, that the U.S. is responsible for hundreds of thousands of civilian deaths in the region and that its policies couldn't be described as selfless?
5
Ruling by fear is the oldest and cheapest trick in the book.
It's also the surest sign of desperation in keeping others under control and the favorite tool of autocrats.
Unfortunately, Mr. Kelly has it wrong.
It's not the boogey-men from other countries that we here in America should be afraid of, the unknown masses of immigrant terrorists who are planning to sneak in and attack us in our beds -- it's our own president, whose daily actions are gaining this country more enemies, and pushing us closer to going over the brink.
If this keeps up, no one will want to come here for any reason anymore, and many of us will want to leave.
It's also the surest sign of desperation in keeping others under control and the favorite tool of autocrats.
Unfortunately, Mr. Kelly has it wrong.
It's not the boogey-men from other countries that we here in America should be afraid of, the unknown masses of immigrant terrorists who are planning to sneak in and attack us in our beds -- it's our own president, whose daily actions are gaining this country more enemies, and pushing us closer to going over the brink.
If this keeps up, no one will want to come here for any reason anymore, and many of us will want to leave.
15
Looking the other direction in regard to home-grown threats (e.g., white supremacists, drug violence, domestic violence, suicide, school shootings) to the security of the homeland makes us all less safe. Bigoted policies that alienate young minority men certainly makes us all less safe. Driving people underground where there only options to make a living are illegal makes us all less safe. Failure to engage in diplomacy and engaging with nations in the ares of the world where terrorism starts makes us all less safe. Not getting people solid educations and childcare from the start makes us all less safe.....
6
It is obvious that security and terrorism need to be taken seriously. However fear mongering and scapegoating makes the situation significantly worse. Most people will never be touched by a terrorist event. Yet somehow we think we should be spending billions of dollars in causing panic that something bad will happen.
6
We have good reason to be wary of everything this administration says and does. And it is irresponsible (if not criminal) to stoke paranoia, especially in ignorant and politically motivated ways.
Meanwhile , our media must aggressively put better ideas front and center. Are we still not in agreement about our fundamental values in this country? As long as the tower of babel is the largest structure around, these guys will stay in power.
Meanwhile , our media must aggressively put better ideas front and center. Are we still not in agreement about our fundamental values in this country? As long as the tower of babel is the largest structure around, these guys will stay in power.
5
Mr. Kelly is just the latest member of a GOP administration to use fear to persuade people to give up their rights, to take them from others, or to sign off on cruel policies against people designated to blame for all our troubles.
Yes, there are real dangers to Americans in this world and no, none of them are existential threats to the United States. The biggest threat to this country comes from within and it's not from immigrants, whatever rheir legal status.
Yes, we owe much to those who search for and end terrorist threats, and no, I don't expect them to keep us completely safe. I expect them to do their best within the parameters set by a society that prizes freedom and individual rights. It isn't worth giving up our rights and our freedom to hold them to the impossible standard of absolute security. If we do give them up, then the terrorists win without firing a shot.
Yes, there are real dangers to Americans in this world and no, none of them are existential threats to the United States. The biggest threat to this country comes from within and it's not from immigrants, whatever rheir legal status.
Yes, we owe much to those who search for and end terrorist threats, and no, I don't expect them to keep us completely safe. I expect them to do their best within the parameters set by a society that prizes freedom and individual rights. It isn't worth giving up our rights and our freedom to hold them to the impossible standard of absolute security. If we do give them up, then the terrorists win without firing a shot.
9
What is really scary is that the US military has (had?) all these generals that have respect for human rights or the US constitution.
Is our military growing them this way? Or is it the most aggressive of men become generals. If there are a high number of these kinds of generals still in the military I'm concerned.
Is our military growing them this way? Or is it the most aggressive of men become generals. If there are a high number of these kinds of generals still in the military I'm concerned.
3
Fear mongering is, and has always been, an important modus operandi for this Trump Bunch. He was doing this at every one of his campaign rallies (which stupidly continue) and the rest of his entourage will, of course, follow suit with this. Why? They have nothing else that they can use; nothing else that they can talk about but fear. They have no ideas for progress in the U.S.
So, maybe we should be afraid, but not from outside forces. No, the threat lies within this present, inept Execution branch of government.
So, maybe we should be afraid, but not from outside forces. No, the threat lies within this present, inept Execution branch of government.
4
Maybe we have been sparred more deaths by terroists is because homeland security has been so vigilant.
I live in ground zero and I'm grateful for an exaggerated response to our current threats.
I live in ground zero and I'm grateful for an exaggerated response to our current threats.
4
I live in an inner city multicultural neighborhood and in response to all of the fear mongering we decided to unlock all of the doors in our house to protest the unsubstianted claims that the boogeyman is right around the corner.
The general response from our friends and neighbors is that of disbelief, we just shrug and tell them the truth that we don't hate anyone and that if someone needs what we have more than we do then they can have it.
The general response from our friends and neighbors is that of disbelief, we just shrug and tell them the truth that we don't hate anyone and that if someone needs what we have more than we do then they can have it.
129
Actually keeping your doors unlocked may have the reverse effect of keeping your home more safe.
1
"They despise the United States, because we are a nation of rights, of laws and of freedoms."
We've been through this with Dubya Bush. No, they don't "hate us for our freedom."
They hate us for what we do to them. They don't attack other places just as free that leave them alone.
Trump talked of doing less of that, but in fact has been doing more of what Obama did, and only somewhat less of the same things that Hillary promised. Poke that hornets' nest, and see what happens. Bash it really hard, over and over again for decades.
Our immigration laws do need to be fixed, but that isn't the problem here. Kelly isn't proposing any fixes either.
The problem is that Obama had enforced them only as he thought they should have been written, in the name of executive discretion, while Kelly is demonstrating how far that discretion can go the other way.
That is not an attack on Obama using discretion. Discretion is a duty of prosecutors, they are supposed to exercise it. Anyway, they must because they just can't prosecute everything equally, they must have priorities.
Failure to use discretion, or abuse of that discretion to do bad things still within the letter of the law, that is what Kelly is demonstrating. He then says, "Stop me if you can."
We'll have to stop him. His rhetoric straight from Dubya will make that easier, since he labels himself as a fool in terms of a debate long settled.
We've been through this with Dubya Bush. No, they don't "hate us for our freedom."
They hate us for what we do to them. They don't attack other places just as free that leave them alone.
Trump talked of doing less of that, but in fact has been doing more of what Obama did, and only somewhat less of the same things that Hillary promised. Poke that hornets' nest, and see what happens. Bash it really hard, over and over again for decades.
Our immigration laws do need to be fixed, but that isn't the problem here. Kelly isn't proposing any fixes either.
The problem is that Obama had enforced them only as he thought they should have been written, in the name of executive discretion, while Kelly is demonstrating how far that discretion can go the other way.
That is not an attack on Obama using discretion. Discretion is a duty of prosecutors, they are supposed to exercise it. Anyway, they must because they just can't prosecute everything equally, they must have priorities.
Failure to use discretion, or abuse of that discretion to do bad things still within the letter of the law, that is what Kelly is demonstrating. He then says, "Stop me if you can."
We'll have to stop him. His rhetoric straight from Dubya will make that easier, since he labels himself as a fool in terms of a debate long settled.
11
This quote says so much about our lack of understanding: "They despise the United States, because we are a nation of rights, of laws and of freedoms." There are a lot of nations with these characteristics who are not under threat of imminent attack. So why the US? Until we understand the why, we won't solve the problem. We're dealing with symptoms, not cause, and until the cause is gone, the problem won't be resolved.
196
Yep there is a good book about what the rest of the world understands about America that America doesn't care to admit about itself!
1
Interesting, as this administration continues to TAKE AWAY or limit our rights and freedoms, and makes up laws that help the .1%. Sad
1
Trump' and his homeland security officials would do well to remember that real guarantee of security lies in the fact as to how much trust the citizens do repose in their government, and how willing cooperation they extend to strengthen the genuine security efforts of the government. There's no room for the trade-off between security and freedom in such a modern democratic society. While the kind of wolf crying on the terror threat and immigration issue the Trump team indulges in routinely could only prove counterproductive as this false alarm could only lead to a paranoid society with little trust between the government and the public, that never believes its government nor could relate to its security efforts.
6
Mr. Kelly, not surprisingly for a member of this administration, contradicts himself. First, he depicts his agency as the thin red line that protects America from the horde of terrorists who seek to enter this country in order murder its citizens. Then, he lashes out at his congressional critics who, he claims, lack the courage to change the immigration laws which his oath of office requires him to enforce.
The secretary, in short, portrays himself as both Horatio at the bridge, a courageous defender of American security, and, at the same time, an unappreciated bureaucrat simply doing his duty, as prescribed by law. This defense should earn him kudos from Mr. Trump, the role model for shape-shifting government officials.
The secretary, in short, portrays himself as both Horatio at the bridge, a courageous defender of American security, and, at the same time, an unappreciated bureaucrat simply doing his duty, as prescribed by law. This defense should earn him kudos from Mr. Trump, the role model for shape-shifting government officials.
57
I fear the NRA much more than ISIS. I truly believe that if we ignore them, they'll focus on their own area, the Middle East. The mass shootings and other gun related deaths are mostly caused by young mentally ill white males with enabling behavior of Wayne LaPierre. That's who is dangerous. Or what poses a greater risk of death to you?...Islam or our gun culture. Hint gun culture deaths per year near 30,000 Islamic dudes 100? Let's get real. If you want to stereotype and name the most dangerous group... males. It always the males.
420
Yeah, yeah, the NRA as a threat to Americans. Teaching people the value of a firearm and how to safely use it as really dangerous. Sure, ISIS is much less of a threat. Just ask all those refugees and victims of ISIS. Oh, it's all "white males"? Gee, that's not racist. Very open minded and tolerant of you. By the way, how's that gun control thing working now in France? They don't seem to have a big problem getting AK-47s there.
2
Trump announced his new VOICE program to deal with crimes committed by illegal immigrants at the same time that restrictions were lifted that prevented certain mentally unstable people from getting guns because that violated their sacred second amendment rights. Where is the department to help the victims of gun violence in this country perpetrated by these newly armed mentally ill legal citizens? Which number do you think will be greater? The hypocrisy of this administration is breathtaking!
4
Security is an illusion; no one is every completely safe; life is dangerous and unpredictable. Timothy McVey was not an immigrant or a Muslim, nor was Ted Kaczynski. We are in far more danger on a daily basis from the millions of American born citizens who text or surf the net while driving than we are from ISIS or immigrants or any other member of a different culture whom Trump & Co chose to turn into the terrorist de jour.
205
Regrettably, many people in both Canada and the United States have poor anger management skills and escalate to bad behavior that incudes violence
Make no mistake; Kelly and the Trump mob are intent upon creating and militarizing a national police force. These people are not brave; rather, they are cowards with evil intent.
205
Muslim terrorists are also cowards with evil intent.
1
ALL terrorists are cowards with evil intent
3
Secretary Kelly's remarks assume that courage, faith in our way of life and determination to 'keep calm and carry on' are completely lacking in our society. Nobody argues that the threat of terrorism is real and unsettling, but to use that threat to condemn our ability to stand tall and behave with dignity is particularly nasty.
The fact is, when terror attacks occur, ghastly and inhuman as they are, they are possibly the only moments when we, as responsible, civilised humans, really do come together, make the sacrifices we must and carry on.
Considering the many stories of human bravery and collective determination resulting from terrorism, it is ironic that these 'brave, strong, powerful men' advocate we hide behind fortresses and submit to the terrorists ultimate goal. To cower in fear.
Of course, serious precautions must be undertaken. But we should never be told we are cowards by those who want to rule over us. They are no better than the terrorists themselves.
May they all rot in hell.
The fact is, when terror attacks occur, ghastly and inhuman as they are, they are possibly the only moments when we, as responsible, civilised humans, really do come together, make the sacrifices we must and carry on.
Considering the many stories of human bravery and collective determination resulting from terrorism, it is ironic that these 'brave, strong, powerful men' advocate we hide behind fortresses and submit to the terrorists ultimate goal. To cower in fear.
Of course, serious precautions must be undertaken. But we should never be told we are cowards by those who want to rule over us. They are no better than the terrorists themselves.
May they all rot in hell.
40
"They despise the United States, because we are a nation of rights, of laws and of freedoms."
'Congress should have “the courage and the skill to change those laws,” or “shut up and support the men and women on the front lines” of immigration enforcement.'
-- Sec. Kelly
Sec. Kelly's first statement is an assertion which is arguably false at this time. We continue to allow the violation of the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution because it's "our guy" doing the violation. We arrest and incarcerate (and kill) more minorities than others in this country. We let the "banksters" loot the Treasury with a low Federal funds rate with which they can then get money to lend at much higher interest. The Secretary would seem to be happy to deport a jaywalker if he could.
His second statement is more correct. Congress needs to debate and pass comprehensive immigration reform to quell the fear among hard working men, women and children throughout this country.
Let's return to our roots, Mr. Secretary, and support freedom. I would recommend starting with FDR's Four Freedoms: freedom of speech and expression, freedom to worship the God of your choice, freedom from want and freedom from fear. Come and see us again when you have achieved those four.
'Congress should have “the courage and the skill to change those laws,” or “shut up and support the men and women on the front lines” of immigration enforcement.'
-- Sec. Kelly
Sec. Kelly's first statement is an assertion which is arguably false at this time. We continue to allow the violation of the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution because it's "our guy" doing the violation. We arrest and incarcerate (and kill) more minorities than others in this country. We let the "banksters" loot the Treasury with a low Federal funds rate with which they can then get money to lend at much higher interest. The Secretary would seem to be happy to deport a jaywalker if he could.
His second statement is more correct. Congress needs to debate and pass comprehensive immigration reform to quell the fear among hard working men, women and children throughout this country.
Let's return to our roots, Mr. Secretary, and support freedom. I would recommend starting with FDR's Four Freedoms: freedom of speech and expression, freedom to worship the God of your choice, freedom from want and freedom from fear. Come and see us again when you have achieved those four.
35
McCarthyism light. Comments made so we all fall in line like sheep. Everyday men given the power to rip children from mothers, search citizens laptops, and anything their paranoid minds decide to do to "keep us safe" Kelley was suppose to be a rational player. I think not.
45
I agree with you. I, too, thought Kelly was going to be rational and was fooled. He sounds like Trump, someone who gets his opinions from InfoWars and Fox. Plus, his insulting Congress people who do not get in line with his thinking is frightening. Telling them to "shut up." Drunk on his own power, just like the people who work for him.
5
Some people now believe that enforcing laws against being here illegally is the same thing as "attacking immigrants."
The Times thinks they're the same. So do many other media outlets and commentators.
But there are huge numbers of people who think they are different. And who have no trouble understanding that if you don't want specific laws enforced, you need to change them.
The Times thinks they're the same. So do many other media outlets and commentators.
But there are huge numbers of people who think they are different. And who have no trouble understanding that if you don't want specific laws enforced, you need to change them.
9
And one way to change them is not to obey them. That is how societies change - through civil disobedience. The State always overreacts and the people stand strong. The Founding Fathers knew that.
5
Yes, we've been advocating change for years. We've been blocked by a party that puts party before country, that uses immigration as a distraction and preys on the ignorance and prejudice and fear of the electorate.
Funny, isn't it, how fear of immigration and ardor for border control grows with distance from immigrants and borders? It's not the great cities thronged with immigrants calling for mass deportation. Nor border towns in Texas and New Mexico.
Small towns hundreds of miles away from coastal cities, where immigrants are counted by the handful, elected Trump. They believe his outright lie that the borders are insecure. The don't bother to read that net immigration from Mexico has been negative for years. Truth be told, they don't distinguish between legal and illegal immigration, either. That's the nature of prejudice.
Thanks to them we'll waste money on the wall and spend the next few years cowering before an illusory problem instead of facing real ones.
All kinds of crimes are subject to the statute of limitations. Why not immigration? If someone is here 7 years or 15, and hasn't caused any great harm, why not overlook the infraction? Let them stay. Deny them citizenship because they arrived illegally. Add a 2% surcharge to their taxes as a lifetime penalty. And be done with it. The government has more important work to do.
Funny, isn't it, how fear of immigration and ardor for border control grows with distance from immigrants and borders? It's not the great cities thronged with immigrants calling for mass deportation. Nor border towns in Texas and New Mexico.
Small towns hundreds of miles away from coastal cities, where immigrants are counted by the handful, elected Trump. They believe his outright lie that the borders are insecure. The don't bother to read that net immigration from Mexico has been negative for years. Truth be told, they don't distinguish between legal and illegal immigration, either. That's the nature of prejudice.
Thanks to them we'll waste money on the wall and spend the next few years cowering before an illusory problem instead of facing real ones.
All kinds of crimes are subject to the statute of limitations. Why not immigration? If someone is here 7 years or 15, and hasn't caused any great harm, why not overlook the infraction? Let them stay. Deny them citizenship because they arrived illegally. Add a 2% surcharge to their taxes as a lifetime penalty. And be done with it. The government has more important work to do.
3
What we need is a rational appraisal of actual risk of terrorist attacks and reasonable steps to increase our personal safety. But then the admin wouldn't be able to scare americans if they told americans the truth: that americans have significantly higher risks of being struck by a bolt of lightening than by being blown up a terrorists bomb.
29
The countries and people of the world should expand all opportunities to interact peacefully as a community of nations. Sports, film festivals, museum sharing, art, student exchange and study abroad, collaborative efforts to fight disease or save the environment, medical research, space exploration etc. Our media, including newspapers,should highlight international cooperation and achievements. We only hear and think about the dark side. Our reality could be joyous. Right now psychopaths occupy our thoughts. We are better than that.
10
But truly we are not better than that.We are decadent narcissists.
7
"They despise the United States, because we are a nation of rights, of laws and of freedoms."
Wrong Kelly. The world loves the U.S. because it is a nation of rights, of laws and of freedoms. They despise the U.S. because we do not practice what we preach. We accord no rights, we abide by no laws, we distain freedom for all those who are not mirror images of ourselves.
Fearmongering's overriding objective is to make sure the military/industrial complex thrives. It is what drives the U.S. economy. Imagine what the trillions upon trillions of dollars spent on our endless wars, our endless research for weapons of mass destruction, our endless pursuit to forcibly remake the world into our own image would be used instead for Marshall Plan equivalents around the world (and right here in the U.S. too) but absent all the cultural baggage we now glue to every penny of aid--military or otherwise.
The world is diverse. Live with it.
Wrong Kelly. The world loves the U.S. because it is a nation of rights, of laws and of freedoms. They despise the U.S. because we do not practice what we preach. We accord no rights, we abide by no laws, we distain freedom for all those who are not mirror images of ourselves.
Fearmongering's overriding objective is to make sure the military/industrial complex thrives. It is what drives the U.S. economy. Imagine what the trillions upon trillions of dollars spent on our endless wars, our endless research for weapons of mass destruction, our endless pursuit to forcibly remake the world into our own image would be used instead for Marshall Plan equivalents around the world (and right here in the U.S. too) but absent all the cultural baggage we now glue to every penny of aid--military or otherwise.
The world is diverse. Live with it.
300
Thank you, Chip Steiner. I was going to write what you wrote. Fear mongering is one of the most basic tools used by authoritarians. Josef Goebbels followed that rule, as did many others. Sadly, many people fall for it and look to their "leaders" for protection. Kelly is a hard core authoritarian. Small wonder Trump likes him.
3
For the first time in my life I'm embarrassed to be an American where people with these type of thoughts are in charge "Mr. Kelly dismissed critics who have lamented his stated willingness to separate immigrant mothers and children caught entering the country, claiming that this unfathomably cruel threat would be, and indeed already has been, a useful disincentive for would-be migrants.". My father was an immigrant and fought for the USA in WWII, he would not like my words, but he would understand them...
39
THE OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY Has got things all wrong. The biggest causes of death in the US, hence the greatest threats to national security, are:
Over 800,000 deaths per year from smoking tobacco.
Over 200,000 deaths per year from alcohol abuse.
Over 33,000 deaths per year from lethal gunshot wounds and over 60,000 nonlethal injuries from firearms.
Over 32,000 deaths per year from distracted drivers.
Over 32,000 deaths per year from opioid overdose.
Deaths and injuries per year from domestic violence are another source of terrorism.
Tragic though they are, the number of deaths per year related to terrorism, domestic or foreign, is far fewer than any of the above sources.
Even one single death per year from any of the causes listed above is one too many. But to increase Homeland Security, the definition of what constitutes a threat must be changed. The Declaration of Independence states that in the US we are entitled to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. Death or serious injury, physical, mental or sexual, must be significantly decreased to make the US Homeland more secure!
Over 800,000 deaths per year from smoking tobacco.
Over 200,000 deaths per year from alcohol abuse.
Over 33,000 deaths per year from lethal gunshot wounds and over 60,000 nonlethal injuries from firearms.
Over 32,000 deaths per year from distracted drivers.
Over 32,000 deaths per year from opioid overdose.
Deaths and injuries per year from domestic violence are another source of terrorism.
Tragic though they are, the number of deaths per year related to terrorism, domestic or foreign, is far fewer than any of the above sources.
Even one single death per year from any of the causes listed above is one too many. But to increase Homeland Security, the definition of what constitutes a threat must be changed. The Declaration of Independence states that in the US we are entitled to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. Death or serious injury, physical, mental or sexual, must be significantly decreased to make the US Homeland more secure!
138
"The best political weapon is the weapon of terror. Cruelty commands respect. Men may hate us. But, we don't ask for their love; only for their fear."
-Heinrich Himmler
Unfortunately, reading the Editorial and the Kelly comments about Congress, the above name came to mind. Today some will say that it is outlandish to think something like what happened in Germany so many years ago could happen here. Maybe so but I think, what might be happening now if our economy was in shambles as Germany's was.
With people like Trump and Kelly in power, a dysfunctional Congress, and a divided country nothing would surprise me. I don't kid myself to think this is just a bad dream. Our civil liberties are about to come under attack and we all need to fight back as best we can.
-Heinrich Himmler
Unfortunately, reading the Editorial and the Kelly comments about Congress, the above name came to mind. Today some will say that it is outlandish to think something like what happened in Germany so many years ago could happen here. Maybe so but I think, what might be happening now if our economy was in shambles as Germany's was.
With people like Trump and Kelly in power, a dysfunctional Congress, and a divided country nothing would surprise me. I don't kid myself to think this is just a bad dream. Our civil liberties are about to come under attack and we all need to fight back as best we can.
246
"Oderint dum metuant." ("Let them hate, so long as they fear.") Attributed to the Roman Emperor Caligula
4
"Naturally the common people don't want war, neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy. It is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of their masters. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country."
- Hermann Goering, at the Nuremberg Trials
No, it is not outlandish to draw historical parallels. After all, the Heimat Sicherheits Dienst was simply the German Department of Homeland Security.
- Hermann Goering, at the Nuremberg Trials
No, it is not outlandish to draw historical parallels. After all, the Heimat Sicherheits Dienst was simply the German Department of Homeland Security.
7
One small point: the greatest penetration of our defenses and failure of national security - Sept. 11, 2001 - was never seriously investigated or even understood. There was simply no realistic way the hijackers could have been as successful as they were without greater assistance than discovered or revealed. Let's go back to the original failure and try to solve the greatest crime since the Trojan Horse, Mr. Kelly, if you want to be taken seriously. If every precaution and individual responsibilty across the board could have failed on 9/11, and not a single person was punished, demoted, fired or even reprimanded (never mind promoted or awarded medals a la George Tenet!!!) then the likelihood of more human error is just as real. But that's only half the story.
12
Your claim, "There was simply no realistic way the hijackers could have been as successful as they were without greater assistance than discovered or revealed" is that, an unsupported opinion.
4
@Roy Boswell - And do we know that given the lack of substantive investigation? What, exactly, was the breakdown in the way the Bush administration handled warnings about Bin Laden's determination "to strike in US"? Why, exactly, was the reaction to the events so badly mishandled? You don't have to be a conspiracy theorist to want to know why there was the kind of breakdown in our defenses that we saw that day--carelessness on the part of any or all of the authorities could have been responsible for how things ultimately played out. What precautions have been taken (especially now with a president who has the attention span of gnat)? And is there any possibility that it might have been worse than simple negligence, perhaps a deliberate failure to take precautions in hopes of a "new Pearl Harbor," as advocated by people--including Bush administration big-wigs such as Cheney and Rumsfeld--affiliated with the Project for the New American Century?
2
When do the Brown Shirt sales begin at WalMart?
19
I survived two attacks on the World Trade Center. It's people like Kelly who I'm really afraid of. You can only kill me once but peple like him would subvert the freedom of my children and grandchildren and all their generations if given the chance.
1255
Threats or no threats, there is a vast difference between setting a global example for twenty first century policing and behaving like a third rate dictatorship. The former is far more effective at getting results than the latter. General Kelley is only eroding his reputation by adopting the ham fisted verbal thuggery of his boss.
49
"You want me on that wall you need me on that wall". Apologies to jack Nicholson
5
Not only can we handle the truth, we deserve and should demand the truth.
24
I actually work for DHS Secretary Kelly amid a diverse cadre of attorneys, scientists and others who support Federal law enforcement. Diverse, including Muslims of both genders from all inhabited continents, innumerable national origins and all kinds of orientations. Please bear in mind that your focus is somewhat out of context and exaggerated. Perhaps Kelly just wants to shake people out of their complacency, nothing else.
7
And just maybe, Tournachonadar, your are too close to it and thus a bit too subjective. In addition, my age and combined with observations have made me a bit more skeptical of motives and their motivation. We were never a very self-analytical Nation and prefer to look outside for the root causes of our problems rather than looking at how we contribute to our situation - past, present and future. The current state of affairs demands much more scrutiny from all of us.
7
Just what "complacency" are you talking about? Should we be fearing Islamic terrorists hiding under our beds the way they tried to get people to believe Commies were hiding under the bed in the 50s? Hey, maybe we should get shaken out of our "complacency" that owning guns is only about the "right" to carry a gun, even if there is no militia. After all, on an average day, 93 Americans are killed by guns. Maybe getting rid of "complacency" around gun ownership would be more useful than fear-mongering about foreign terrorists.
3
We have proven, over and over again, that we are our own worst enemy. We abuse and inflict pain casually all over the world and we stand in complete disbelief when any of that collected Karma comes home to roost. Given the chatter and rhetoric coming out of this autocratic White House, I hope the Fearmongers along with the boys in the back room are not planning the next attack to drive the point home. We need to look behind the smoke and mirrors if we are to survive these 4 years.
39
The manufactured fear level is ridiculous. In the USA today, you're more likely to be killed by falling furniture, drown in a bathtub, or even be hit by lightning than be killed by an Islamic terrorist (or one of any other religion) who snook over the border.
Congress ought to be fixing real problems, not manufactured ones. Try the fact that 1,047 people died in car accidents in Michigan in 2016 because the roads are a mess - thanks Gov Snyder! Or in New Jersey, where, since Gov Christie cut the funding for the transit authority by 90%, rail accidents and deaths have soared and the system is in crisis.
Hey Mr so-called president, where's that trillion dollar infrastructure initiative you promised?
Wake up America! The republicans are conning you to hand over your money under false pretenses; it's daylight robbery of the reverse Robin Hood type, steal from the poor to give to the rich.
Congress ought to be fixing real problems, not manufactured ones. Try the fact that 1,047 people died in car accidents in Michigan in 2016 because the roads are a mess - thanks Gov Snyder! Or in New Jersey, where, since Gov Christie cut the funding for the transit authority by 90%, rail accidents and deaths have soared and the system is in crisis.
Hey Mr so-called president, where's that trillion dollar infrastructure initiative you promised?
Wake up America! The republicans are conning you to hand over your money under false pretenses; it's daylight robbery of the reverse Robin Hood type, steal from the poor to give to the rich.
540
Since 2001 and the attack on the World Trade Center approximately 400 Americans have been killed by foreign agents or natives subverted by terrorist causes.
In that same time period there have been 400,000 Americans killed by other Americas by accident or by murder.
And republicans just keep relaxing the laws on firearm safety and common sense while letting fools like Kelly have a microphone.
In that same time period there have been 400,000 Americans killed by other Americas by accident or by murder.
And republicans just keep relaxing the laws on firearm safety and common sense while letting fools like Kelly have a microphone.
7
Grave, yet necessary words, that reveal contagion to Mr, Kelly from the 'usual' Trump's dangerous big-mouth demagogic stance of instilling fear, hate and division; aggressive exaggerations instead of paused assertiveness in our strength as a nation, the trust in each other. We must listen to Ben Franklin's words, and act accordingly: "Those willing to give up freedom for a dubious and transient security, deserve neither".
41
Kelly sounds a crazy fearful man who sees threats even under the bushes in his own front yard. Gimme a break. If he was my neighbor I'd think of him as a crazy old stink. You shut up and have more respect for those who pay your salary as a civilian and as a military person. What a looney
26
If government has done such a good job of keeping us safe, then why do we need to overhaul and crack down on people who have done no harm. The threats from within are mostly from ultra-right militia types who get invited to the White House.
167
There will be limit to the removal of rights if you base the threat levels on what might happen. The US has always had enemies and one of its strengths has always been its ability to carry on without giving in to threats and intimidation.
Now it seems that the administration is going to use fear-mongering to restrict the general population because although it will start with Muslims, it will end up restricting everyone. The founding fathers must be turning in their graves.
Now it seems that the administration is going to use fear-mongering to restrict the general population because although it will start with Muslims, it will end up restricting everyone. The founding fathers must be turning in their graves.
21
Fear and suspicion of "the other" in likely inscripted into our DNA, and the Republican party has always been happy to exploit our weaknesses to sell their faulty product.
Unfortunately, the Democrats are not the greatest advocates of our better, and wiser angels either, and have also often fed the flames of irrational fear in creating and executing foreign and domestic policy.
Today, it is Islamophobia, yesterday it was communistphobia. For the current culture of he GOP it was blackaphobia, which inspired the creation of their apartheid southern states. The rest of the country probably didn't join in on this phobia because their ratio of blacks to whites wasn't so "threatening".
If northern liberals were far superior, there would have been no Japanese-American internment. And then there is the obscenely high incarceration rates in this country, for which both parties share the blame.
No matter how often history shows our fears to be baseless, or highly exaggerated, we repeatedly succumb to them, squandering trillions of dollars and spreading untold suffering pursuing a false security that is never enough to make us actually feel safe.
Unfortunately, the Democrats are not the greatest advocates of our better, and wiser angels either, and have also often fed the flames of irrational fear in creating and executing foreign and domestic policy.
Today, it is Islamophobia, yesterday it was communistphobia. For the current culture of he GOP it was blackaphobia, which inspired the creation of their apartheid southern states. The rest of the country probably didn't join in on this phobia because their ratio of blacks to whites wasn't so "threatening".
If northern liberals were far superior, there would have been no Japanese-American internment. And then there is the obscenely high incarceration rates in this country, for which both parties share the blame.
No matter how often history shows our fears to be baseless, or highly exaggerated, we repeatedly succumb to them, squandering trillions of dollars and spreading untold suffering pursuing a false security that is never enough to make us actually feel safe.
106
@ Alan Haigh carmel ny - Alan I have geneticist friends and also contact with a leading Swedish science journalist and author of two books tracing the lines of descent of various Swedish sub groups using genome research. All of them express strong rejection of "it's in our genes" as explanations of behavior as complex as racist behavior in all in its many forms.
Additional reason for caution is that we have a president who many times has attributed his brilliance to his German genes and perhaps further back in time to his Swedish genes until he learned who his grandfather was.
The journalist Karin Bojs also objected the Swedish national library cataloging her books under "ras/race" and they agreed that this is wrong since Svante Pääbo, a Swedish born expert could explain this to them - one race, the human, many invented races, invented by racists.
I support your comment but want to spread the view of my expert friends.
Only-NeverInSweden.blogspot.com
Dual citizen US SE
Additional reason for caution is that we have a president who many times has attributed his brilliance to his German genes and perhaps further back in time to his Swedish genes until he learned who his grandfather was.
The journalist Karin Bojs also objected the Swedish national library cataloging her books under "ras/race" and they agreed that this is wrong since Svante Pääbo, a Swedish born expert could explain this to them - one race, the human, many invented races, invented by racists.
I support your comment but want to spread the view of my expert friends.
Only-NeverInSweden.blogspot.com
Dual citizen US SE
3
Larry, I don't believe your experts are actually addressing my point directly. It is also in our genes to be cooperative, peaceful negotiators, so they are probably suggesting the instinct to fear foreignness is not necessarily dominant, but I doubt they would contend it is not there.
1
Immigration really should be addressed by Congress. I see it as a two part issue. First is to secure our borders, not with a wall, update our visa system and start tracking people who come here on visa. Second is to address the people here illegally who might be parents of citizens, dreamers or at this point solid contributes to our country.
11
Of course no one mentions the elephant in the room: the white, American male who has amassed an arsenal of weapons in his garage who ends up killing far more Americans than any of the immigrants we scapegoat. Or the 4 year old who takes mom's loaded gun out of her handbag in Walmart's and accidentally shoots her. Why is that harder to say than 'Islamic terrorists' when the real life threatening problem in the US is too may guns. Of course we have to be vigilant to the threat fo terrorism but why not deal with the threat that's in our own houses: too many guns.
1188
Because kids and white men don't kill people everyday with a commitment....
Look at Paris yesterday.
Are we making this stuff up???????
Look at Paris yesterday.
Are we making this stuff up???????
6
Crossing Overhead says they "don't kill people with a commitment" but dead is dead and Americans kill thousands of other Americans every year. And they are committed to kill as many as they can when they choose to turn their assault weapons against other Americans. You are more likely to be shot by your neighbour in the US than I am to be shot by an Islamic terrorist on the street in Pais. It's a fact; look it up.
17
Not to mention the Caucasian crooks in Washington and on Wall Street who wear expensive suits and fleece the public's pension and health care benefits so we die of starvation and illness.
15
Perhaps it's time to face facts. Americans are much more likely to die at the hands of a countryman than be slain by a foreign terrorist. And not a fellow citizen harboring religious fervor. Fear is not becoming to freedom . Get a teddy bear.
75
Basically these "tough on terror" pretenders ramp up the rhetoric, betray civil liberties, and create enemies. Then, when there is an inevitable attack, they go "See?"
50
I miss the days before 9/11 and I'm sad that children born post 9/11 think it's perfectly normal to be at war at all times. Yes we live in very difficult and challenging times but after nearly two decades of war perhaps the time has come to ask ourselves if this is sustainable.
Clearly terrorism is a legitimate concern. But Homeland security should be able to protect us from threats both foreign and domestic quietly and without fuss. Will they be able to stop all terrorist attacks, of course not but in the last two decades we haven't had another 9/11 type attack so clearly whatever they've been doing is working.
Turning citizens against each other is something that is right out of Hitler's playbook. He turned the Germans against Jews and others who didn't quite fit in. Then he staged a fake attack on Germany by people dressed like polish citizens and eventually WWII broke out.
Yes I know that comparing the Trump administration to Hitler has been done to death. But the parallels between the two are unnerving and history tends to repeat itself.
We have the right to secure our borders. We have the right to keep our people safe from those who mean us harm. But we don't need to compromise our values to accomplish security. These policies and scare tactics create enemies where none exist.
Clearly terrorism is a legitimate concern. But Homeland security should be able to protect us from threats both foreign and domestic quietly and without fuss. Will they be able to stop all terrorist attacks, of course not but in the last two decades we haven't had another 9/11 type attack so clearly whatever they've been doing is working.
Turning citizens against each other is something that is right out of Hitler's playbook. He turned the Germans against Jews and others who didn't quite fit in. Then he staged a fake attack on Germany by people dressed like polish citizens and eventually WWII broke out.
Yes I know that comparing the Trump administration to Hitler has been done to death. But the parallels between the two are unnerving and history tends to repeat itself.
We have the right to secure our borders. We have the right to keep our people safe from those who mean us harm. But we don't need to compromise our values to accomplish security. These policies and scare tactics create enemies where none exist.
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"Of course it is necessary to take seriously threats from extremist groups and criminals, and take measures against them. But they do not justify Mr. Kelly’s incendiary message to his work force. "
OK, so what do you suggest? If not Secretary John Kelly’s approach, then what? More of the same is not going to cut it at this point in time. Something has to change, and answers to these problems need to be found by the left. If not, you can expect more and more Trump like figures gaining ground into the forseeable future.
OK, so what do you suggest? If not Secretary John Kelly’s approach, then what? More of the same is not going to cut it at this point in time. Something has to change, and answers to these problems need to be found by the left. If not, you can expect more and more Trump like figures gaining ground into the forseeable future.
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What to suggest? A message to his workforce to do their jobs diligently but without disregarding the human rights, dignity, and Constitutional protections of the people they encounter, whether at the border or elsewhere. A clear message to his workforce that they do not have to stoop to the level of the criminals or terrorists they are working against. And some words of appreciation for the successes they have had in keeping us free from large-scale terrorist attacks since September 11.
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Angie, I read fear in your response to this article. You are not alone in suffering form fear, however. The entire Trump regime is based on fear: fear of immigrant children, fear of women trying to herd their kids to freedom from a madman in Syria, fear of anyone who dresses unlike we do, talks with an foreign accent, has darker skin than the majority of people in America, worships God differently than we do. Is the fear based on fact? Some ... a little, maybe. hey, two immigrant boys raped a girl in a school bathroom so we should toss out 11 or 12 million of them. Chris Christie and Donald Trump are afraid of little Syrian kids who may grow up to be terrorists some day. This Kelly guy says we are under attack and he has the approval of the president to say such things so it must be true, right? Wrong! The quasi-fascist right wing rising in America and Europe is stoking the same kinds of fears of "the other" that right-wing, nationalist fear-mongers have always done. Why? Because it works. "Only I understand what must be done. Only I can protect you! Give ME the power and you'll be safe. I'll bomb them all to hell. I'll make friends with the bad guys and we'll make deals and all will be well." So says our president. But you asked what we can do. We can, first, rid ourselves of such people. THEY are the real enemy. We can then pull out of all the places where WE are the invaders/occupiers/terrorists/bombers. Get those done and we can move on.
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get a grip Angie! Our government is part of the extremist groups..
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America is in real trouble. We have a completely incompetent and nasty President, admin and republican controlled Congress. There is no help for us.
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People of late , have been hoping that Trumps appointees were less threatening than he, about fear mongering, but it seems Kelly, Tillerson and Sessions fall right in line with trumps narrow views toward tolerance and 'law and order' stance!
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No, Mr Fearmonger, the greatest danger to America comes from within and specifically from people like you so out of touch with reality you see anybody who is not your mirror image as a terrorist.
Who has been doing most of the killing inside the USA? Not so good born-and-bred Americans with lines of descent not traceable to the Middle East. Yes I know, they are just a small fraction of those I refer to as born-and-bred but they are terrorists, that is individuals who without the slightest forewarning turn up at a school, a church (or in Canada a mosque) and shoot to kill.
European countries, my own and several others, must maintain a high level of awareness, since we welcomed the highest numbers of asylum seekers per 100,000 population of any so-called Western countries. The US welcomed so few, Syrians for example, that it would be hard for me to even find one if I were there. Here in Sweden it is easy and usually a pleasure.
And a reminder, Mr. Fearmonger, if you read this at the New Yorker "The History of Bombing the S... Out of ’Em" By Luke Mogelson you will learn that we, the US match the killing-of-civilian capacity in the ME and Afghanistan of those you fear so much. (New Yorker today 21 April)
Only-NeverInSweden.blogspot.com
Dual citizen US SE
Who has been doing most of the killing inside the USA? Not so good born-and-bred Americans with lines of descent not traceable to the Middle East. Yes I know, they are just a small fraction of those I refer to as born-and-bred but they are terrorists, that is individuals who without the slightest forewarning turn up at a school, a church (or in Canada a mosque) and shoot to kill.
European countries, my own and several others, must maintain a high level of awareness, since we welcomed the highest numbers of asylum seekers per 100,000 population of any so-called Western countries. The US welcomed so few, Syrians for example, that it would be hard for me to even find one if I were there. Here in Sweden it is easy and usually a pleasure.
And a reminder, Mr. Fearmonger, if you read this at the New Yorker "The History of Bombing the S... Out of ’Em" By Luke Mogelson you will learn that we, the US match the killing-of-civilian capacity in the ME and Afghanistan of those you fear so much. (New Yorker today 21 April)
Only-NeverInSweden.blogspot.com
Dual citizen US SE
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Larry...Since you seem so defensive of the Muslim hordes that have stormed into welcoming Sweden, please explain your support for now Muslim controlled Malmo, where no Jewish person wearing a yarmulke can walk the streets without being violently attacked. Is this a lie? Why don't YOU put on a yarmulke and walk through Malmo or other Muslim dominated city? If you won't, or send a female relative in western summer attire there in your stead, doesn't that, by your criteria, make you Islamaphobic? The Muslim ideology toward Jews is virtually identical to that of Hitler's Nazis. Dislike of and contempt for Islam and its adherents is hardly a phobia. It's rational based on the so called religion's hateful, violent core. Some pit bulls are friendly, but many aren't, and avoidance of them is hardly a phobia. Some fears are based on reality. Wake up.
Our civil liberties and privacy have been eroding materially since 1969, when 82 airliners were hijacked, a good number of them flown at gunpoint to Cuba. We’d had hijackings before, but never before in such numbers, and something had to give. What gave was an openness in our society, a process that has evolved steadily through 9/11 and beyond, endless frustrating security lines at our airports, the common pat-down and the occasional strip-search. All of it undoubtedly necessary, all of it unquestionably outrageous.
John Kelly speaks for a lot of Americans who are directly affected by such necessary outrages. Perhaps if ENOUGH “fear” is mongered at Homeland Security and the White House, we’ll direct that outrage more pugnaciously at enemies, offering less need in the long run of directing it at ourselves. A more liberal use of the “mother of all bombs”, for example, on clusters of deadly enemies who incite the shooting of police officers on the Champs-Élysées or the carnage caused by a truck driver in Nice or indiscriminate murderous gunmen or bombers in Paris, Boston, San Bernardino and elsewhere … could help.
And what is so bad about “driving segments of immigrant communities underground”, when those segments aren’t actually “immigrants” but illegal aliens?
It’s been a long time since we traded “fundamental freedoms and principles” for SOME sense of security. Perhaps it’s about time we started doing something deadly serious and far more effective about that.
John Kelly speaks for a lot of Americans who are directly affected by such necessary outrages. Perhaps if ENOUGH “fear” is mongered at Homeland Security and the White House, we’ll direct that outrage more pugnaciously at enemies, offering less need in the long run of directing it at ourselves. A more liberal use of the “mother of all bombs”, for example, on clusters of deadly enemies who incite the shooting of police officers on the Champs-Élysées or the carnage caused by a truck driver in Nice or indiscriminate murderous gunmen or bombers in Paris, Boston, San Bernardino and elsewhere … could help.
And what is so bad about “driving segments of immigrant communities underground”, when those segments aren’t actually “immigrants” but illegal aliens?
It’s been a long time since we traded “fundamental freedoms and principles” for SOME sense of security. Perhaps it’s about time we started doing something deadly serious and far more effective about that.
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I live a handful of miles from the largest Arab population in the country and have no fear of being bombed, beheaded, turned into a muslim or being subjected to Sharia. My chances of being shot or killed in a traffic accident either of which at the hand of a good white American citizen are infinitely greater than in an act of terror. Caution, vigilance and preparedness are certainly prudent but the overt fear is unfounded and counter-productive.
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Perhaps you should stop taking a teddy bear to bed with you at night. The world has always been s dangerous place. And the present moment is no exception. You're more likely to be gunned down by a fellow American than by any foreign terrorist.
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Someone I knew once said years before September 11th "Americans will never have their freedom taken from them. They will voluntarily give it up " my brothers and i thought our well read and forward thinking father was wrong
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